Possible pheromone-carrier function of two lipocalin proteins in the vomeronasal organ.

Miyawaki, Atsushi; Matsushita, Fumio; Ryo, Y.; Mikoshiba, Katsuhiko

doi:10.1002/j.1460-2075.1994.tb06927.x

Cited by 82 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Similarly to the group-B Mup genes that are mostly expressed in the liver, Obp6 is expressed only in lacrimal glands, and Lcn4 is expressed almost exclusively in the vomeronasal organ where LCN4 protein is covering the vomeronasal sensory epithelium to enable primary reception of pheromones (Miyawaki et al, 1994). It is therefore likely, that LCN4 together with Vomeromodulin (Khew-Goodall et al, 1991) and MUP4 (Sharrow et al, 2002) participate in the process of pheromone access and detection by VNO.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mouse Lipocalins (MUP, OBP, LCN) Are Co-expressed in Tissues Involved in Chemical Communication

et al. 2016

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Chemical communication is mediated by signal production and signal perception and in house mice (Mus musculus), both processes involve lipocalin proteins (OBP, MUP, LCN) that transport volatiles and protect them in tissues where they are produced. However, potential roles of lacrimal, nasal, and salivary lipocalins are still not well known. We aimed to determine the expression of the recently described family of odorant binding proteins (Obp), along with major urinary proteins (Mup) across different tissues in wild mice (Mus musculus) to assess the importance of these proteins based on their quantity in particular expression sites. We performed qPCR analysis of selected Mup, Lcn, Obp genes, and predicted Obp members to study their expression in selected tissues. We identified new members of the mouse odorant binding protein gene family in two subspecies, M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus. We show that Mup4 and Mup5 from the phylogenetically older group-A are co-expressed with Obps in orofacial tissues. We also identified a sexually dimorphic pattern of female-biased Obp7 and male-biased Mup4 expression in lacrimal glands. OBPs, MUPs, and LCNs are produced in parallel, which may function to widen the spectrum of bound ligands, potentially including the degradation products of olfactory signals and/or toxic compounds. Moreover, our study demonstrates that several pheromone transporters from the lipocalin family are co-expressed in the nasal and lacrimal tissues of mice with the newly detected OBPs that further expand the already diverse mouse lipocalin family.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mouse Lipocalins (MUP, OBP, LCN) Are Co-expressed in Tissues Involved in Chemical Communication

et al. 2016

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“…Recently, two lipocalins, specifically expressed in the posterior and vomeronasal glands of the mouse nasal septum, have been identified and were suggested to act in the chemoreception of, asyet-unidentified, small lipophilic pheromones [74]. One of these proteins was immunolocalized on the vomeronasal sensory epithelium, the site of primary pheromone reception, and the immunoreactivity was greatest during periods when contact between animals plays an important role in modulating behaviour.…”

Section: Olfactory and Gustatory Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The lipocalin protein family: structure and function

Flower¹

1996

Biochemical Journal

1,540

1,278

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The lipocalin protein family is a large group of small extracellular proteins. The family demonstrates great diversity at the sequence level ; however, most lipocalins share three characteristic conserved sequence motifs, the kernel lipocalins, while a group of more divergent family members, the outlier lipocalins, share only one. Belying this sequence dissimilarity, lipocalin crystal structures are highly conserved and comprise a single eight-stranded continuously hydrogen-bonded antiparallel β-barrel, which encloses an internal ligand-binding site. Together with two other families of ligand-binding proteins, the fatty-acid-binding proteins (FABPs) and the avidins, the lipocalins form part of an overall structural superfamily : the calycins. Members of the lipocalin family are characterized by several common molecular-

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“…In this manner, noradrenergic inputs could directly modulate the firing rate of VNO neurons activated by specific pheromones. Alternatively, noradrenergic fibers innervating the VNO could indirectly affect pheromonal responsiveness by regulating activity of the VNO pump that draws pheromones into the VNO lumen (Meredith, 1994) or by controlling the release of pheromone binding proteins from glands associated with the VNO (Khew-Goodall et al, 1991;Miyawaki et al, 1994).…”

Section: Sex Dimorphism and Activational Effects Of Sex Steroids In Vmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex Difference and Steroid Modulation of Pheromone-Induced Immediate Early Genes in the Two Zones of the Mouse Accessory Olfactory System

Halem¹,

Baum²,

Cherry

2001

J. Neurosci.

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Two anatomically and neurochemically distinct zones within the vomeronasal organ (VNO) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) have been identified that are responsible for the detection of pheromones. Using markers to distinguish between apical and basal neurons of the VNO neuroepithelium and rostral versus caudal AOB glomeruli, we examined immediate early gene immunoreactivity (IEG-IR) in gonadectomized, steroid-treated mice in response to pheromones of male and female conspecifics. After exposure of estradiol-treated females to soiled male bedding, more VNO neurons in the basal than the apical layer exhibited IEG-IR compared with VNO neurons of estradiol-treated males. Conversely, whereas soiled female bedding failed to induce IEG-IR in VNO neurons of estradioltreated males or females, both apical and basal neurons were activated in testosterone-treated males. Male and female pheromones also activated mitral and granule cells in the AOBs of all subjects, but responses to different pheromones were distributed across the boundary of the rostral and caudal regions. These data show that differences in the response of males and females to the same pheromonal stimulus are found in the sensory neurons of the VNO. We propose that centrifugal, noradrenergic inputs to VNO neurons, which may differ in the two sexes and respond differently to adult sex steroids, modulate sensitivity to pheromonal stimulation.

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Possible pheromone-carrier function of two lipocalin proteins in the vomeronasal organ.

Cited by 82 publications

References 30 publications

Mouse Lipocalins (MUP, OBP, LCN) Are Co-expressed in Tissues Involved in Chemical Communication

Mouse Lipocalins (MUP, OBP, LCN) Are Co-expressed in Tissues Involved in Chemical Communication

The lipocalin protein family: structure and function

Sex Difference and Steroid Modulation of Pheromone-Induced Immediate Early Genes in the Two Zones of the Mouse Accessory Olfactory System

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