Mammals use pheromones to communicate with other animals of the same species. In mice, the VNO (vomeronasal organ) has a pivotal role in pheromone detection. We discovered a 7 kDa peptide, ESP1 (exocrine-gland-secreting peptide 1), in tear fluids from male mice that enhances the sexual behaviour of female mice via the VNO. NMR studies demonstrate that ESP1 adopts a compact structure with a helical fold stabilized by an intramolecular disulfide bridge. Functional analysis in combination with docking simulation indicates that ESP1 is recognized by a specific G-protein-coupled vomeronasal receptor, V2Rp5, via charge–charge interactions in the large extracellular region of the receptor. ESP1 is a member of the ESP family, which comprises 38 homologous genes in mice, and some of these genes are expressed in a sex- or age-dependent manner. Most recently, ESP22 was found to be released specifically in juvenile tear fluids and to inhibit the sexual behaviour of adult male mice. These studies demonstrate that peptide pheromones are used for chemical communication in mice, and they indicate a structural basis for the narrowly tuned perception of mammalian peptide pheromones by vomeronasal receptors.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
August 2014
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
Conference Article|
August 11 2014
Structure and function of a peptide pheromone family that stimulate the vomeronasal sensory system in mice
Takayuki Abe;
Takayuki Abe
*Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
Search for other works by this author on:
Kazushige Touhara
Kazushige Touhara
1
*Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
†ERATO Touhara Chemosensory Signal Project, JST, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (emailktouhara@mail.ecc.u-tokyo.ac.jp).
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
April 14 2014
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© The Authors Journal compilation © 2014 Biochemical Society
2014
Biochem Soc Trans (2014) 42 (4): 873–877.
Article history
Received:
April 14 2014
Citation
Takayuki Abe, Kazushige Touhara; Structure and function of a peptide pheromone family that stimulate the vomeronasal sensory system in mice. Biochem Soc Trans 1 August 2014; 42 (4): 873–877. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20140051
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.