Frog nuptial pads secrete mating season-specific proteins related to salamander pheromones

Abstract

SUMMARYMales of many frog species develop spiny nuptial pads with underlying glands on their thumbs during the mating period. We used 3D visualization on the European common frog Rana temporaria to show that the morphology of these glands allows the channelling of secreted molecules to the pad's surface during amplexus. Combined transcriptome and proteome analyses show that proteins of the Ly-6/uPAR family, here termed amplexins, are highly expressed in the nuptial glands during the mating season, but are totally absent outside that period. The function of amplexins remains unknown, but it is interesting to note that they share structural similarities with plethodontid modulating factors, proteins that influence courtship duration in salamanders. Supplementary material available online at

Diversity and evolution of sexually dimorphic mental and lateral glands in Cophomantini treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae: Hylinae)

“…visual, tactile, chemical, and acoustic) in several species (Table ). Given the occurrence of SDSGs exclusively in males, and their putative role as source of sexual pheromones (Willaert et al ., ), the main question underlying these results is the nature of the relationship between the pattern of character distribution and the reproductive biology of these species. More specifically, do the patterns reflect differences in sexual selection mechanisms?…”

“…visual, tactile, chemical) and, in most cases, these interact with each other as multimodal signals (Haddad & Giaretta, ; Hödl & Amézquita, ; Stephenson & Verrell, ; Giasson & Haddad, ; Toledo et al ., ; Taylor et al ., ; Grafe et al ., ; Preininger et al ., ). In particular, there is increasing behavioural (Pearl et al ., ; Poth et al ., ) and chemical evidence (Poth et al ., ; Willaert et al ., ) for the hypothesis that SDSGs of anurans release chemical signals associated with reproduction. Although the field of anuran chemical communication is on its very early stages of development, knowledge of the morphology, structural diversity, and taxonomic distribution of SDSGs is a fundamental step necessary for a more comprehensive understanding of their function.…”

Semiochemicals in Anurans: Testing Different Categories with One Poison Frog Species

“…It was further shown to react towards kairomones (e.g., Saglio and Mandrillon 2006 ), but the ability for kin recognition could not be confi rmed (Kiseleva 1996 ). In addition, there is evidence that sexual pheromones might also exist in this species (Willaert et al 2013 ).…”

Biological Toxins and Bioterrorism

“…However, this conclusion was reached before Willaert et al (2013) reported the existence of aerially dispersed pheromones, whose action would presumably also be rapid. However, this conclusion was reached before Willaert et al (2013) reported the existence of aerially dispersed pheromones, whose action would presumably also be rapid.…”