| Title: | Involvement of G(q/11) in signal transduction in the mammalian vomeronasal organ |
| Author(s): | Wekesa KS; Miller S; Napier A; |
| Address: | "Alabama State University, Biomedical Research and Training Programs, Montgomery, AL 36104-0271, USA. kwekesa@asunset.alasu.edu" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0022-0949 (Print) 0022-0949 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Social behaviors of most mammals are profoundly affected by pheromones. Pheromones are detected by G-protein coupled receptors in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). To investigate the role of G alpha(q/11) in vomeronasal signal transduction pathways, microvillar membranes from murine VNO were prepared. Incubation of such membranes from prepubertal females with adult male urine results in an increase in production of inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate (IP(3)). This stimulation is mimicked by GTP gamma S, blocked by GDP beta S and is tissue specific. Furthermore, use of bacterial toxins such as pertussis that lead to ADP-ribosylation of the G-protein alpha subunits of G(o) and G(i2) do not block the increase in IP(3) levels but U-73122, a PLC inhibitor, blocks the production of IP(3). Studies with monospecific antibodies revealed the presence of three G-proteins, G alpha(o), G alpha(i2) and G alpha(q/11)-related protein, in vomeronasal neurons, concentrated on their microvilli. Our observations indicate that pheromones in male urine act on vomeronasal neurons in the female VNO via a receptor-mediated, G alpha(q/11)-protein-dependent increase in IP(3) levels" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Blotting, Western Estrenes/pharmacology Female GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 Heterotrimeric GTP-Binding Proteins/*metabolism Immunoenzyme Techniques In Vitro Techniques Inositol 1, 4, 5-Trisphosphate/biosynthesis Male Mice Pertussis Tox;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineWekesa, Kennedy S Miller, Stephanie Napier, Audrey eng GM08219/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. England 2003/01/28 J Exp Biol. 2003 Mar; 206(Pt 5):827-32. doi: 10.1242/jeb.00174" |
