TY - JOUR
T1 - Processing of multiple forms of preprosodefrin in the abdominal gland of the red-bellied newt Cynops pyrrhogaster
T2 - Regional and individual differences in preprosodefrin gene expression
AU - Iwata, Takeo
AU - Conlon, J. Michael
AU - Nakada, Tomoaki
AU - Toyoda, Fumiyo
AU - Yamamoto, Kazutoshi
AU - Kikuyama, Sakae
PY - 2004/9
Y1 - 2004/9
N2 - Peptides derived from the post-translational processing of preprosodefrin were isolated from an extract of the abdominal glands of male red-bellied newts Cynops pyrrhogaster obtained 5 months prior to the onset of the breeding season. Structural characterization of the peptides showed that the pheromone sodefrin (SIPSKDALLK) is stored in a biologically inactive COOH-terminally extended form (SIPSKDALLKISA). It follows, therefore, that the activation of a protease that cleaves at a Lys-Ile bond to generate the active pheromone must occur by the time of onset of reproductive behavior. Additional peptides (representing preprosodefrin-(146-175)-peptide and preprosodefrin-(159-173)-peptide), that are derived from the precursor by cleavage at monobasic and dibasic processing sites, were also purified from the extract. The isolation of paralogs of these peptides, including an inactive COOH-terminally extended form of [Asn 10]sodefrin, provides evidence for the expression of multiple genes encoding preprosodefrin. PCR products derived from total RNAs from the abdominal gland of individual newts collected from three different regions of Japan were analyzed. The data confirm the existence of multiple genes encoding sodefrin and its variants whose expression varied according to the individuals and the regions. However, genes encoding sodefrin were found to be expressed in all the specimens sampled.
AB - Peptides derived from the post-translational processing of preprosodefrin were isolated from an extract of the abdominal glands of male red-bellied newts Cynops pyrrhogaster obtained 5 months prior to the onset of the breeding season. Structural characterization of the peptides showed that the pheromone sodefrin (SIPSKDALLK) is stored in a biologically inactive COOH-terminally extended form (SIPSKDALLKISA). It follows, therefore, that the activation of a protease that cleaves at a Lys-Ile bond to generate the active pheromone must occur by the time of onset of reproductive behavior. Additional peptides (representing preprosodefrin-(146-175)-peptide and preprosodefrin-(159-173)-peptide), that are derived from the precursor by cleavage at monobasic and dibasic processing sites, were also purified from the extract. The isolation of paralogs of these peptides, including an inactive COOH-terminally extended form of [Asn 10]sodefrin, provides evidence for the expression of multiple genes encoding preprosodefrin. PCR products derived from total RNAs from the abdominal gland of individual newts collected from three different regions of Japan were analyzed. The data confirm the existence of multiple genes encoding sodefrin and its variants whose expression varied according to the individuals and the regions. However, genes encoding sodefrin were found to be expressed in all the specimens sampled.
KW - Amphibian
KW - Pheromone
KW - Post-translational processing
KW - Sodefrin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4544343468&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.10.027
DO - 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.10.027
M3 - Article
C2 - 15374655
AN - SCOPUS:4544343468
SN - 0196-9781
VL - 25
SP - 1537
EP - 1543
JO - Peptides
JF - Peptides
IS - 9
ER -