A novel form of oxytocin in New World monkeys

作者：Lee Alex G^*; Cool David R; Grunwald William C Jr; Neal Donald E; Buckmaster Christine L; Cheng Michelle Y; Hyde Shellie A; Lyons David M; Parker Karen J

来源：Biology Letters, 2011, 7(4): 584-587.

DOI：10.1098/rsbl.2011.0107

• oxytocin
• mesotocin
• arginine vasopressin
• New World monkey
• oxytocin receptor
• squirrel monkey

Oxytocin is widely believed to be present and structurally identical in all placental mammals. Here, we report that multiple species of New World monkeys possess a novel form of oxytocin, [P8] oxytocin. This mutation arises from a substitution of a leucine to a proline in amino acid position 8. Further analysis of this mutation in Saimiri sciureus (squirrel monkey) indicates that [P8] oxytocin is transcribed and translated properly. This mutation is specific to oxytocin, as the peptide sequence for arginine vasopressin, a structurally related nonapeptide, is unaltered. These findings dispel the notion that all placental mammals possess a 'universal' oxytocin sequence, and highlight the need for research on the functional significance of this novel nonapeptide in New World monkeys.

• 出版日期2011-8-23