| Title: | Urinary proteins and the modulation of chemical scents in mice and rats |
| Address: | "Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZJ, UK. r.beynon@liv.ac.uk" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.12.025 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0196-9781 (Print) 0196-9781 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The urine of mice, rats and some other rodents contains substantial quantities of proteins that are members of the lipocalin family. The proteins are thought to be responsible for the binding and release of low molecular weight pheromones, and there is now good evidence that they discharge this role, providing a slow release mechanism for volatile components of scent marks. However, the proteins may function as chemosignalling molecules in their own right, contributing one or more roles in the communication of individual identity and scent mark ownership. In this review, we summarize current understanding of the structure and function of these urinary proteins, and speculate about their role as supporters or as key participants in the elaboration of the complex chemosensory properties of a rodent scent mark" |
| Keywords: | "Amino Acid Sequence Animals Female Ligands Male Mice Models, Chemical Models, Molecular Molecular Sequence Data Odorants Pheromones/metabolism Polymorphism, Genetic Protein Conformation Protein Structure, Secondary Proteins/*analysis/chemistry/*metabolism;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBeynon, Robert J Hurst, Jane L eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review 2004/09/18 Peptides. 2004 Sep; 25(9):1553-63. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.12.025" |
