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Indian J Exp Biol

Title:		Identification of pheromone-carrying protein in the preorbital gland post in the endangered Indian male Blackbuck Antelope cervicapra L
Author(s):		Rajagopal T; Rajkumar R; Ponmanickam P; Achiraman S; Padmanabhan P; Archunan G;
Address:
Journal Title:		Indian J Exp Biol
Year:		2015
Volume:		53
Issue:		12
Page Number:		771 - 778
DOI:
ISSN/ISBN:		0019-5189 (Print) 0019-5189 (Linking)
Abstract:		"In mammals, a low molecular mass protein (17-20 KDa) reported from the pheromone sources such as urine, saliva, glandular secretion, etc., as ligand-carrier (pheromone carrier) has been associated with chemo-communication. Since the preorbital gland post is one of the major pheromone sources in Indian Blackbuck, an endangered species, we assumed that it possibly contains low molecular mass protein for chemical communication. Hence, we investigated the preorbital gland post in territorial and non-territorial male blackbucks for such low molecular mass proteins adopting SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS analysis. The total content of protein was higher in the post of territorial males than non-territorial males of adult and sub-adult. In fact, the protein profiles such as 17, 21, 25, 42 and 61 kDa were noted in the gland secretion of territorial and non-territorial males. The intensity of the 17 kDa protein band was higher in territorial males than non-territorial males. In-gel trypsin digestion of the 17 kDa band was processed and subjected to LC-MS/MS and SEQUEST analyses. The results of LC-MS/MS and SEQUEST search showed the presence of alpha(2u)-globulin in the 17 kDa band. In addition, the identified alpha(2u)-globulin sequence possessed GDW residues, which are the characteristic signature for lipocalin family. Since the alpha(2u)-globulin has been reported from the pheromone-carrying proteins in some mammals, this protein may carry the volatiles (pheromone compounds) in male Blackbucks preorbital gland to evoke the scent marking for maintaining territoriality (home range) and attraction towards female, through the secretion of glandular protein"
Keywords:		"Alpha-Globulins/chemistry/*metabolism Amino Acid Sequence Animal Communication Animals Antelopes/genetics/*metabolism/psychology Carrier Proteins/chemistry/*metabolism Chromatography, Liquid Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel *Endangered Species Exocrine;"
Notes:		"MedlineRajagopal, T Rajkumar, R Ponmanickam, P Achiraman, S Padmanabhan, P Archunan, G eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't India 2016/01/09 Indian J Exp Biol. 2015 Dec; 53(12):771-8"