The complexity of protein semiochemistry in mammals

Abstract

The high degree of protein sequence similarity in the MUPs (major urinary proteins) poses considerable challenges for their individual differentiation, analysis and quantification. In the present review, we discuss MS approaches for MUP quantification, at either the protein or the peptide level. In particular, we describe an approach to multiplexed quantification based on the design and synthesis of novel proteins (QconCATs) that are concatamers of quantification standards, providing a simple route to the generation of a set of stable-isotope-labelled peptide standards. The MUPs pose a particular challenge to QconCAT design, because of their sequence similarity and the limited number of peptides that can be used to construct the standards. Such difficulties can be overcome by careful attention to the analytical workflow.

The Genetic Basis of Kin Recognition in a Cooperatively Breeding Mammal

“…Importantly, these shared signatures are readily recognized against the heterogeneous genetic background of individual outbred animals (see also [23,24]), a feature essential for genetic kinship markers. Although polymorphic MUP isoforms differ from each other by only a few amino acid changes [44], they are discriminated through vomeronasal sensory neurons using a combinatorial-coding strategy [25]. In addition, MUPs influence individual volatile odor signatures through binding and release of a wide range of urinary volatiles, with isoforms differing in specific binding affinities [45][46][47][48].…”

Ten years of QconCATs: Application of multiplexed quantification to small medically relevant proteomes

“…In animals, quantitative assays based on QconCAT were used to study variations in inflammatory protein expression in tissues, body fluids and cells [19,20]. Other studies applied the QconCAT strategy to the quantification of multiple major urinary proteins (MUPs) [21], human liver drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transporters [15,22], human intestinal transporters [23], and human cytokine proteins [24]. Chen et al used QconCAT standards to quantify proteins, in post-mortem human brain tissue, which are related to the development of Alzheimer's disease including clusterin and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein (PICALM) and amyloid precursor protein (APP) [25][26][27][28].…”

Signal Detection and Coding in the Accessory Olfactory System

“…Moreover, as we attempt to cover a broad range of AOS-specific topics, the description of some aspects of AOS signaling inevitably lacks in detail. The interested reader is referred to a number of excellent recent reviews that either delve into the AOS from a less mouse-centric perspective ( Salazar and Sánchez-Quinteiro 2009 ; Tirindelli et al 2009 ; Touhara and Vosshall 2009 ; Ubeda-Bañon et al 2011 ) and/or address more specific issues in AOS biology in more depth ( Wu and Shah 2011 ; Chamero et al 2012 ; Beynon et al 2014 ; Duvarci and Pare 2014 ; Liberles 2014 ; Griffiths and Brennan 2015 ; Logan 2015 ; Stowers and Kuo 2015 ; Stowers and Liberles 2016 ; Wyatt 2017 ; Holy 2018 ).…”