Title: | "Attenuation of the production of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate in the mouse vomeronasal organ by antibodies against the alphaq/11 subfamily of G-proteins" |
Author(s): | Thompson RN; Napier A; Wekesa KS; |
Address: | "Department of Biological Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, 36101-0271, USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 0379-864X (Print) 0379-864X (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The social and reproductive behaviors of most mammals are modulated by pheromones, which are perceived by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Vomeronasal transduction in vertebrates is activated through G-protein-coupled receptors, which in turn leads to the generation of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) and diacylglycerol (DAG) by the activity of phospholipase C. DAG has been shown to gate the transient receptor potential channel 2, whereas IP(3) may play a role in stimulating the release of calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum store. To investigate the role of the alpha subunits of G(q/11) in the transduction process, microvillar membranes from female mice VNO were preincubated with a selective C-terminal peptide antibody against Galpha(q/11) and then stimulated with adult male urine. Incubation of VNO membranes with antibodies against Galpha(q/11) blocked the production of IP(3) in a dose-dependent manner. We were also able to impair the production of IP(3) when we stimulated with 2-heptanone or 2,5-dimethylpyrazine in the presence of antibodies against the alpha subunit of G(q/11). 2-Heptanone is a known pheromone that has been linked to VIR receptors. Thus, our observations indicate that the alpha subunits of G(q/11) play a role in pheromonal signaling in the VNO" |
Keywords: | "Angiotensin II/antagonists & inhibitors/pharmacology Animals Antibodies/*pharmacology Cell Membrane/chemistry/drug effects/metabolism Diglycerides/biosynthesis Dose-Response Relationship, Drug Enzyme Activation Female GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, G;" |
Notes: | "MedlineThompson, Roger N Napier, Audrey Wekesa, Kennedy S eng GM08219/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ P20 MD000547/MD/NIMHD NIH HHS/ Comparative Study Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural England 2006/06/08 Chem Senses. 2006 Sep; 31(7):613-9. doi: 10.1093/chemse/bjj066. Epub 2006 Jun 6" |