Research Article

Detection of α2u-globulin and its bound putative pheromones in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat (Rattus rattus) using mass spectrometry

  1. R. Rajkumar1,2,
  2. R. Ilayaraja1,
  3. C.-C. Liao2,
  4. G. Archunan1,*,
  5. S. Achiraman3,
  6. S. Prakash5,
  7. W. V. Ng4,
  8. Y. G. Tsay2

Article first published online: 18 FEB 2010

DOI: 10.1002/rcm.4437

Issue

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry

Volume 24, Issue 6, pages 721–728, 30 March 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Rajkumar, R., Ilayaraja, R., Liao, C.-C., Archunan, G., Achiraman, S., Prakash, S., Ng, W. V. and Tsay, Y. G. (2010), Detection of α2u-globulin and its bound putative pheromones in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat (Rattus rattus) using mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom., 24: 721–728. doi: 10.1002/rcm.4437

Author Information

  1. 1

    Center for Pheromone Technology, Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India 620 024

  2. 2

    Proteomics Research Center, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan 112 R.O.C

  3. 3

    Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli,Tamilnadu, India 620 024

  4. 4

    Institute of Biotechnology in Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan 112 R.O.C

  5. 5

    Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India 560 012

*Center for Pheromone Technology, Department of Animal Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India 620 024.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 18 FEB 2010
  2. Article first published online: 18 FEB 2010
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 27 DEC 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 26 DEC 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 1 NOV 2009

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Abstract

The role of pheromones and pheromone-binding proteins in the laboratory rat has been extensively investigated. However, we have previously reported that the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat produces a variety of pheromonal molecules and preputial glands would seem to be the predominant source for pheromonal communication. The presence of pheromone-binding proteins has not yet been identified in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat; therefore, the experiments were designed to unravel the α2u-globulin (α2u) and its bound volatiles in the commensal rat. Total preputial glandular proteins were first fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and subsequently analyzed by mass spectrometry. Further, we purified α2u and screened for the presence of bound pheromonal molecules with the aid of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A novel α2u was identified with a high score and this protein has not been previously described as present in the preputial gland of Indian commensal rats. This novel α2u was then characterized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Peptides with m/z values of 969, 1192, 1303 and 1876 were further fragmented with the aid of MS/MS and generated denovo sequences which provided additional evidence for the presence of α2u in the preputial gland. Finally, we identified the presence of farnesol 1 and 2 bound to α2u. The present investigation confirms the presence of α2u (18.54 kDa) in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat and identifies farnesol 1 and 2 as probably involved in chemo-communication by the Indian commensal rat. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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