Bat salivary proteins segregate according to diet

Abstract

Whole saliva samples were gathered from four insectivorous (Myotis tricolor, Pijnstrellus africunus, Mops condylurus, and Chaerephon pumilla) and two frugivorous (Epomophorus labiatus, E. minor) bat species following a 6-10 hour fasting period and immediately stored in liquid nitrogen. Proteins within the samples were visualized by SDS-PAGE techniques modified for saliva. With the exception of E. minor, each species is represented by four to five individuals. Only minor fluctuations in protein banding patterns were encountered among conspecifics. However, frugivores exhibit a major band at 60 Kd that is absent in inscctivorcs, and insectivores exhibit a major 40 Kd band that is lacking in frugivores. Pcptides from three sets of bands were extracted directly from the gels after in-silu proteolysis and isolation using HPLC. Comparison of amino acid sequences to the PIR, EC, and SwisProt databanks did not yield any compelling similarities, though some interesting potential matches were generated. Based on their molecular weights, potential identities of the proteins are discussed with respect to their roles in digestion and the maintenance of the oral cavity. These data constitute the first comparative analysis of bat salivary proteins and suggest that this novel source of data will prove useful in answering both functional and evolutionary questions.Resume. -Des echantillons de salive ont etc recueillis de quatre especes de chauves-souris inscctivores (Myotis tricolor, Pipistrellus africanus. Mops condylurus ct Chaerephon pumilla) et de deux especes frugivores (Epomorphorus labiatus, E. minor) apres une periode de jeime de 6 a 10 hcures. et places immcdiatement dans l'azote liquide. Les protcines contenues dans les echantillons ont etc rendues visibles par les techniques SDS-PAGE modificcs pour la salive. A l'exception de /:. minor, chaque cspecc est represcntcc par quatre ä cinq individus. Parmi les individus conspecifiques, seules des fluctuations mincures ont ete rencontrces dans les « banding patterns » des proteines. Cependant, les frugivores manifestcnt une bände majcurc a 60 Kd, bände absente chez les inscctivores. D'autre part, les insectivores montrent une bände majeure a 40 Kd, bände qui n'cxistc pas chez les frugivores. Des peptides ont cte rcleves dircctemcnt des gels, aprcs protcolyse in situ et isolation utilisant HPLC. La compuraison de sequences des acides amines avcc les banqucs d'information (Databanks) du PIR, EC ct SuisProt, rf a abouti a Mammalia, t. 63, n° 2, 1999 : 159-166. Brought to you by | University of Arizona Authenticated Download Date | 5/25/15 6:18 PM 160 MAMMALIA aucunc vraie similaritc, quoiquc certaincs similaritccs potentielles ont ete rcalisccs. Sc basant sur leur poids moleculaire, les idcntites potentielles des proteines sont discutees, notamment ä propos de leur role dans la digestion ct dans l'entretien de la cavite buccalc. Ces resultats constituent la premiere analyse comparative des proteines salivaires des chauves-souris et suggerent que cette nouvelle source d'inform...

Digestive enzymes of human and nonhuman primates

“…Lagomorphs, pigs, and some bats also produce α‐amylase in their salivary glands, but no studies investigating the genetic bases of this phenotype have been conducted in these groups. Evidence for salivary amylase has been found in several species of bats, including Eidolon helvum, Epomophorus labiatus , and Myotis grisescens , but a systematic survey comparing variation in digestive enzymes, including salivary amylase, across the order Chiroptera has not been done. Given that bats exhibit great dietary diversity, feeding on blood, insects, small vertebrates, nectar, fruit, and pollen, knowledge of the digestive enzymes found in different species could provide a better understanding of the types of selective pressures under which dietary physiology evolves.…”