Aphrodisin

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Aphrodisin ( Mesocricetus auratus )
Aphrodisin (Mesocricetus auratus)
Structure according to PDB  1E5P , the C-terminus is marked

Existing structural data : 1E5P

Mass / length primary structure 151 amino acids
Identifier
External IDs
Occurrence
Parent taxon hamster

Aphrodisin was as a protein of the Bartholin gland in hamsters identified. In male rats' noses , it triggers copulatory behavior . However, due to its membership of the lipocalins, it is assumed that aphrodisin carries a ligand that is the active pheromone . This ligand has not yet been discovered.

Structure and occurrence

Aphrodisin was first discovered in the vaginal secretions of hamsters. It is a product of the Bartholin's glands (vaginal atrial glands). The structure is known.

The hamster precursor protein has 167 amino acids, of which the first 16 N -terminal amino acids form the signal peptide . The N -terminal glutamine is cyclized to pyroglutamate by glutamine cyclase ( EC  2.3.2.5 ) .

The expression of aphrodisin in hamsters is restricted to the Bartholin's glands in the genital tract.

Using Northern Blot under less stringent conditions, HJ Mägert and others have also detected aphrodisin RNA in the Bartholin's glands of rats and Tupaia as well as humans.

Aphrodisin and the unknown ligand

Aphrodisin is believed to bind a previously unknown ligand. However, this seems to be very closely linked to aphrodisin. Proteolytic or heat degradation of aphrodisin destroys its biological activity.

See also

Vertebrate pheromones

swell

  1. ↑ Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB): PROSITE documentation PDOC00187. Retrieved September 20, 2011 .
  2. ↑ structural information on hamster aphrodisin (Engl.)
  3. ↑ Mägert HJ, Hadrys T, Cieslak A, Gröger A, Feller S, Forssmann WG: cDNA sequence and expression pattern of the putative pheromone carrier aphrodisin . (PDF) In: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA . 92, No. 6, March 1995, pp. 2091-5. PMID 7892229 . PMC 42429 (free full text). (engl.)
  4. ^ Singer AG: A chemistry of mammalian pheromones . In: J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol . 39, No. 4B, October 1991, pp. 627-32. PMID 1892792 .
  5. ↑ Singer AG, Macrides F, Clancy AN, Agosta WC: Purification and analysis of a proteinaceous aphrodisiac pheromone from hamster vaginal discharge . (PDF) In: J. Biol. Chem. . 261, No. 28, October 1986, pp. 13323-6. PMID 3759967 .