An Odorant-Binding Protein Is Abundantly Expressed in the Nose and in the Seminal Fluid of the Rabbit

作者：Mastrogiacomo Rosa; D'Ambrosio Chiara; Niccolini Alberto; Serra Andrea; Gazzano Angelo; Scaloni Andrea^*; Pelosi Paolo

来源：PLos One, 2014, 9(11): e111932.

DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0111932

We have purified an abundant lipocalin from the seminal fluid of the rabbit, which shows significant similarity with the subclass of pheromone carriers "urinary" and "salivary" and presents an N-terminal sequence identical with that of an odorant-binding protein (rabOBP3) expressed in the nasal tissue of the same species. This protein is synthesised in the prostate and found in the seminal fluid, but not in sperm cells. The same protein is also expressed in the nasal epithelium of both sexes, but is completely absent in female reproductive organs. It presents four cysteines, among which two are arranged to form a disulphide bridge, and is glycosylated. This is the first report of an OBP identified at the protein level in the seminal fluid of a vertebrate species. The protein purified from seminal fluid is bound to some organic chemicals whose structure is currently under investigation. We reasonably speculate that, like urinary and salivary proteins reported in other species of mammals, this lipocalin performs a dual role, as carrier of semiochemicals in the seminal fluid and as detector of chemical signals in the nose.

• 出版日期2014-11-12