| Title: | "Presence of sodefrin precursor-like factor pheromone candidates in mental and dorsal tail base glands in the plethodontid salamander, Karsenia koreana" |
| Author(s): | DeBruin JH; Wilburn DB; Feldhoff RC; Staub NL; |
| Address: | "Department of Biology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, United States of America. Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America" |
| DOI: | 10.1371/journal.pone.0289296 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1932-6203 (Electronic) 1932-6203 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Plethodontid salamanders are well known for their distinct courtship rituals and the associated pheromonal signaling. However, little is known about pheromones produced in the lone Asian plethodontid species Karsenia koreana. Here, we examined the localization patterns of proteins of the sodefrin precursor-like factor (SPF) pheromone system in K. koreana. Using an antibody generated against SPF proteins from another plethodontid, Desmognathus ocoee, we tested three types of skin glands in K. koreana males via immunohistochemistry: the mental gland and two types of dorsal tail base glands-caudal courtship glands and dorsal granular glands. SPF immunoreactivity was detected in the known courtship gland, the mental gland, as well as granular glands, but not in caudal courtship glands. Due to immunoreaction specificity, we hypothesize the proteins of the SPF system in K. koreana and D. ocoee are structurally and functionally related and are used as courtship pheromones in K. koreana. Also, we hypothesize that K. koreana males transmit SPF to the female during the tail-straddling walk via dorsal granular glands. Finally, K. koreana male caudal courtship glands may be producing SPF proteins that are not recognized by our SPF antibody or these glands may play a different role in courtship than anticipated" |
| Keywords: | Animals Male Female *Pheromones/metabolism *Urodela Oligopeptides/metabolism Proteins Antibodies; |
| Notes: | "MedlineDeBruin, Jared H Wilburn, Damien B Feldhoff, Richard C Staub, Nancy L eng R00 HD090201/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2023/08/01 PLoS One. 2023 Aug 1; 18(8):e0289296. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289296. eCollection 2023" |
