Inheritance of the Catnip Response in Domestic Cats

Todd, Neil B.

doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a107121

Cited by 54 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…1a) 1,2 . These compounds are responsible for the stimulatory effects these plants have on cats [3][4][5] . Moreover, certain insects use nepetalactones as sex pheromones, so production of these compounds by the plant also impacts interactions with insects 6 .…”

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confidence: 99%

Uncoupled activation and cyclisation in catmint reductive terpenoid biosynthesis

Lichman

Kamileen

Tichman

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Terpene synthases typically form complex molecular scaffolds by concerted activation and cyclization of linear starting materials in a single enzyme active site. Here we show that iridoid synthase, an atypical reductive terpene synthase, catalyses the activation of its substrate 8-oxogeranial into a reactive enol intermediate but does not catalyse the subsequent cyclisation into nepetalactol. This discovery led us to identify a class of nepetalactol-related short-chain dehydrogenase enzymes (NEPS) from catmint (Nepeta mussinii) which catalyse the stereoselective cyclisation of the enol intermediate into nepetalactol isomers. Subsequent oxidation of nepetalactols by NEPS1 provides nepetalactones, metabolites that are well known for both insect-repellent activity and euphoric effect in cats. Structural characterisation of the NEPS3 cyclase reveals it binds to NAD + yet does not utilise it chemically for a nonoxidoreductive formal [4+2] cyclisation. These discoveries will complement metabolic reconstructions of iridoid and monoterpene indole alkaloid biosynthesis. Main paperNepetalactones 1 are volatile natural products produced by plants of the genus Nepeta, notably catmint (Nepeta mussinii syn racemosa) and catnip (N. cataria) (Fig. 1a) 1,2 . These compounds are responsible for the stimulatory effects these plants have on cats [3][4][5] . Moreover, certain insects use nepetalactones as sex pheromones, so production of these compounds by the plant also impacts interactions with insects 6 . Notably, the bridgehead stereocentres (carbons 4a and 7a) vary between 2 and within 2,4,7 Nepeta species. N. mussinii individuals, for example, produce different ratios of cis-trans 1a, cis-cis 1b and trans-cis-nepetalactone 1c 7 . Variation in stereoisomer ratio may influence the repellence of insect herbivores 8,9 . While the ratio of stereoisomers may be responsible for important biological effects, the mechanism of stereocontrol in nepetalactone biosynthesis is not known.Nepetalactones are iridoids, non-canonical monoterpenoids containing a cyclopentanopyran ring. Canonical cyclic terpenoids (e.g. (-)-limonene) are biosynthesised from linear precursors by terpene synthases (Fig. 1b) 10 . These enzymes activate linear precursors either by loss of pyrophosphate or protonation [10][11][12] . The resulting carbocations generated cyclise rapidly to form an array of cyclic products 13 . Therefore, in canonical terpenoid biosynthesis, activation and cyclisation of precursors are coupled and occur in the same enzyme active site.In plant iridoid biosynthesis, geranyl pyrophosphate is hydrolysed and oxidised into 8-oxogeranial 2 14 . This precursor then undergoes a two-step activation-cyclisation process, analogous to canonical terpene synthesis (Fig. 1c) 15 . Unlike canonical terpene synthesis, however, activation is achieved by reduction, and the intermediate is not a carbocation, but the enol or enolate species 3. Cyclisation of this intermediate yields cis-trans-nepetalactol 4a along with iridodial side products 5 (Fig. 1c).

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Uncoupled activation and cyclisation in catmint reductive terpenoid biosynthesis

Lichman

Kamileen

Tichman

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…The response to catnip and similar plants will vary due to genetic differences. 35,36 Cat cages in the veterinary practice If possible, provide cat-only rooms. The optimal cat cage has the following attributes: ✜ Is large enough to accommodate the client's carrier, and for the litter box to be away from food, bedding and water.…”

Section: Exam/consulting Roommentioning

confidence: 99%

AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines

Rodan¹,

Sundahl²,

Carney³

et al. 2011

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery

216

186

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Background The number of pet cats is increasing in most countries, often outnumbering pet dogs, yet cats receive less veterinary care than their canine counterparts.1 Clients state the difficulty of getting the cat into a carrier at home, driving to the clinic, and dealing with the fearful cat at the veterinary clinic as reasons for fewer visits.2 Educating and preparing the client and the veterinary team with regard to respectful feline handling is necessary in order to avoid stress and accomplish the goal of good health care. Without such preparation, feline stress may escalate into fear or fear-associated aggression. The resulting stress may alter results of the physical examination and laboratory tests, leading to incorrect diagnoses (eg, diabetes mellitus) and unnecessary treatments.

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“…The smell of the plant produces a characteristic behavioural response (Todd, 1962(Todd, , 1963b, which includes : sniffing; licking and chewing with head shaking; chin, cheek and body rubbing, and repeated head-over rolling. Catnip and the following year the same laboratory (McElvain, Walters & Bright, 1942) showed by tests on lions (~) that it was the lactone, NEPETALACTONE, in the oil of catnip that induced the characteristic behaviour.…”

Section: Catnipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This behaviour, especially the head-over rolling is otherwise uniqueto the behaviour of oestrous females. However, the catnip-response is independent of the sex of the cat or even the presence of the gonad~ (Todd, 1962(Todd, , 1963bPalen & Goddard, 1966), which casts serious doubt on the suggestion tha~ nepetalactone is mimicking a pheromone releasing oestrous behaviour (Todd, 1963b;Hart, 1974b). Besides the domestic cat, the snow leopard, jaguar, leopard, lion, bobcat, lynx, ocelot, puma and several of the smaller cats respond %exually' to catnip (Todd, 1963b.…”

Section: Catnipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Lion cubs do not respond at all (McElvain et al 1942). Todd (1962) found that only a proportion of cats reacted to catnip and by controlled breeding experiments showed that the predisposition to respond was inherited as a~ autosomal dominant. More recently Hatch (1972) has suggested that nepetalactone is an hallucinogenic agent which induces "pleasurable behaviour" in cats, rather than sexual behaviour as such.…”

Section: Catnipmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tom-cat odour and other pheromones in feline reproduction

Bland¹

1979

Vet Res Commun

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Bland, K.P., 1979.Tom-cat odour and other pheromones in feline reproduction. Vet. Sci. Commun., 3: 125-136.The function and suppression of urine 'spraying' by cats is discussed as also is the source of tom-cat odour.It seems unlikely that tom-cat odour is derived from the lipid in the proximal convoluted tubule of the kidney, however its production by the anal glands has not yet been proven.Although male cats show a flehmen response when sniffing urine, smell seems to play a more important role in reproduction in the female than the male.The available data suggests that valeric acid may function as a female/female pheromone in cats by inducing or facilitating oestrus. Nepetalactone, the active ingredient of catnip, is probably not related to any naturally occurring pheromone in the cat but simply acts as an hallucinogenic drug.

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Inheritance of the Catnip Response in Domestic Cats

Cited by 54 publications

References 4 publications

Uncoupled activation and cyclisation in catmint reductive terpenoid biosynthesis

Uncoupled activation and cyclisation in catmint reductive terpenoid biosynthesis

AAFP and ISFM Feline-Friendly Handling Guidelines

Tom-cat odour and other pheromones in feline reproduction

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