| Title: | Elephant albumin: a multipurpose pheromone shuttle |
| Author(s): | Lazar J; Rasmussen LE; Greenwood DR; Bang IS; Prestwich GD; |
| Address: | "Columbia University, Department of Biological Sciences, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA. jl2291@columbia.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.chembiol.2004.05.018 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1074-5521 (Print) 1074-5521 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "(Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate (Z7-12:Ac) is present in the urine of female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) approaching ovulation and functions as a female-to-male sex pheromone. Here we show that a significant fraction of the pheromone in the urine is bound to a protein, elephant serum albumin (ESA), and provide evidence for key physiological functions of urinary ESA. Our biochemical and behavioral experiments suggest a three-fold role of ESA in pheromone signaling: (1) transporting Z7-12:Ac from serum into urine; (2) extending the presence of the pheromone in the environment without hampering detection; and (3) targeting pheromone delivery to chemosensory organs through localized release of the ligand induced by a pH change. The exploitation of albumin in pheromone transport clearly distinguishes the elephant from other mammals studied, and complements the uniqueness of elephant anatomy, physiology, and behavior" |
| Keywords: | "Acetates/*metabolism/urine Albumins/chemistry/genetics/*metabolism Animals Biological Availability Biological Transport Cloning, Molecular *Elephants Female Hydrogen-Ion Concentration Molecular Structure Pheromones/*metabolism/urine Substrate Specificity;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineLazar, Josef Rasmussen, L E L Greenwood, David R Bang, In-Seok Prestwich, Glenn D eng R01-DC03320/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2004/08/25 Chem Biol. 2004 Aug; 11(8):1093-100. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2004.05.018" |
