| Title: | Functional Protein Composition in Femoral Glands of Sand Lizards (Lacerta agilis) |
| Author(s): | Ibanez A; Skupien-Rabian B; Jankowska U; Kedracka-Krok S; Zajac B; Pabijan M; |
| Address: | "Department of Comparative Anatomy, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland. Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Poland. Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland. Department of Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland. Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Krakow, Poland" |
| DOI: | 10.3390/molecules27072371 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1420-3049 (Electronic) 1420-3049 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Proteins are ubiquitous macromolecules that display a vast repertoire of chemical and enzymatic functions, making them suitable candidates for chemosignals, used in intraspecific communication. Proteins are present in the skin gland secretions of vertebrates but their identity, and especially, their functions, remain largely unknown. Many lizard species possess femoral glands, i.e., epidermal organs primarily involved in the production and secretion of chemosignals, playing a pivotal role in mate choice and intrasexual communication. The lipophilic fraction of femoral glands has been well studied in lizards. In contrast, proteins have been the focus of only a handful of investigations. Here, we identify and describe inter-individual expression patterns and the functionality of proteins present in femoral glands of male sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) by applying mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Our results show that the total number of proteins varied substantially among individuals. None of the identified femoral gland proteins could be directly linked to chemical communication in lizards, although this result hinges on protein annotation in databases in which squamate semiochemicals are poorly represented. In contrast to our expectations, the proteins consistently expressed across individuals were related to the immune system, antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism as their main functions, showing that proteins in reptilian epidermal glands may have other functions besides chemical communication. Interestingly, we found expression of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) among the multiple and diverse biological processes enriched in FGs, tentatively supporting a previous hypothesis that MHC was coopted for semiochemical function in sand lizards, specifically in mate recognition. Our study shows that mass spectrometry-based proteomics are a powerful tool for characterizing and deciphering the role of proteins secreted by skin glands in non-model vertebrates" |
| Keywords: | Animals Humans Immune System/metabolism Lipid Metabolism *Lizards/metabolism Male Pheromones/metabolism Proteomics Lacertidae femoral glands immune system inter-individual variation; |
| Notes: | "MedlineIbanez, Alejandro Skupien-Rabian, Bozena Jankowska, Urszula Kedracka-Krok, Sylwia Zajac, Bartlomiej Pabijan, Maciej eng UMO-2017/25/B/NZ8/01498/National Science Center/ Switzerland 2022/04/13 Molecules. 2022 Apr 6; 27(7):2371. doi: 10.3390/molecules27072371" |
