Potential Chemosignals in the Anogenital Gland Secretion of Giant Pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Associated with Sex and Individual Identity

Zhang, Jianxu; Liu, Dingzhen; Sun, Lixing; Wei, Rongping; Zhang, Guiquan; Wu, Honglin; Zhang, Hemin; Zhao, Congcong

doi:10.1007/s10886-008-9441-3

Cited by 52 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Analyses of perianal secretions, used by pandas to deposit scent marks, showed the presence of several fatty acids as well as some aldehydes (27,29,30). We can hypothesize on the basis of the best ligands found for our OBPs as well as on the information available for pheromone components in other mammals that both long-chain aldehydes and their corresponding carboxylic acids might represent suitable candidates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…Scent marks carried by urine and perianal secretions are utilized by both sexes to advertise their presence and status (26). In female urine, short-chain fatty acids seem to be predominant (27,28), while male perianal glands contain medium and long linear aldehydes as well as a number of long-chain fatty acids together with a variety of other chemicals (29,30). At present, it is not clear which volatiles might be the best putative semiochemicals.…”

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

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Reverse chemical ecology: Olfactory proteins from the giant panda and their interactions with putative pheromones and bamboo volatiles

Zhu

Arena

Spinelli

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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104

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The giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca belongs to the family of Ursidae; however, it is not carnivorous, feeding almost exclusively on bamboo. Being equipped with a typical carnivorous digestive apparatus, the giant panda cannot get enough energy for an active life and spends most of its time digesting food or sleeping. Feeding and mating are both regulated by odors and pheromones; therefore, a better knowledge of olfaction at the molecular level can help in designing strategies for the conservation of this species. In this context, we have identified the odorant-binding protein (OBP) repertoire of the giant panda and mapped the protein expression in nasal mucus and saliva through proteomics. Four OBPs have been identified in nasal mucus, while the other two were not detected in the samples examined. In particular, AimelOBP3 is similar to a subset of OBPs reported as pheromone carriers in the urine of rodents, saliva of the boar, and seminal fluid of the rabbit. We expressed this protein, mapped its binding specificity, and determined its crystal structure. Structural data guided the design and preparation of three protein mutants bearing single-amino acid replacements in the ligand-binding pocket, for which the corresponding binding affinity spectra were measured. We also expressed AimelOBP5, which is markedly different from AimelOBP3 and complementary in its binding spectrum. By comparing our binding data with the structures of bamboo volatiles and those of typical mammalian pheromones, we formulate hypotheses on which may be the most relevant semiochemicals for the giant panda.odorant-binding proteins | chemical communication | X-ray structure | proteomics | giant panda T he giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca is endemic of China and was formerly classified as an endangered species, now as a vulnerable species, but its population has remained rather stable, although very low, during the last centuries (1). Its phylogenetic classification has been a matter of debate for some time, but molecular genetic studies have recently shown that this species belongs to Ursidae, of which it represents an ancestral branch together with the spectacled bears, Tremarctos, and the sloth bear (1-3). The diets of these species are different from those of carnivorous bears: the giant panda is fully herbivorous, the spectacled bears are mainly herbivorous, and sloth bears feed on termites, fruits, and vegetables. The giant panda also shares with spectacled bears and sloth bears the absence of hibernation, an important characteristic that differentiates these species from other Ursidae (4).The obligate bamboo diet of the giant panda, which is not compatible with its carnivorous digestive system, is barely sufficient to provide the energy required for an active life, likely accounting for the slow movements and long periods of rest typical of this species (5). It has been also suggested that the reduced size of the brain, liver, and kidneys of the giant panda relative to other mammals could be a measure to further reduce the use of i...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Section: Significancementioning

confidence: 99%

Reverse chemical ecology: Olfactory proteins from the giant panda and their interactions with putative pheromones and bamboo volatiles

Zhu

Arena

Spinelli

et al. 2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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104

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“…We tentatively identified compounds by searching for the library of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and characterized each component by comparing it with the mass spectra in the library and literatures [26] . Details about the GC-MS analysis and the compounds from AGS and urine are as described by our previous papers [24,36] .…”

Section: Gc-ms Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relatively poor in eyesight and hearing ability, pandas substantially use anogenital gland secretion (AGS) and urine to regulate their social behaviors, such as territorial advertisement, mate seeking, assessing female's reproductive status [19][20][21] . Previous behavioral and chemical assays suggest that these two sources of scent marks contain information about individual, sex, and age [22][23][24][25][26] . Both wild and captive observations reveal that pandas exhibit mate choice [27,28] .…”

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confidence: 99%

Male panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) urine contains kinship information

et al. 2008

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Chemical communication plays an important role in kin selection and mate choice in mammals. The covariance of odor-genes of rodents has been documented and kinship odor has been proposed andtermed, yet little is known of the relationship between genetic relatedness and chemical composition of kinship odors. Giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) rely substantially on chemical communication to mediate their social interactions. To examine the relationship between genetic relatedness and compounds in the urine/anogenital gland secretions, we compared the similarities between genetic relatedness and the chemical profiles of anogenital gland secretions and urine via lineage construction and GC-MS (gas chromatography and mass spectrometry). We found that information about kinship odors was present only in the urine of male adults in the mating season but absent in the non-mating season. Adult females and all sub-adults did not have such kinship odors in either mating or non-mating season. Therefore, kinship odor in the panda was contingent on age, sex, and season. This is the first report about the condition-dependent expression of kinship odor, which may have a significant implication in the practice of panda conservation in relation to chemical communication and sexual selection.kinship odor, giant panda, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, anogenital gland secretions, urine Most mammals use chemical signals to communicate a wide range of information in their social interactions. Chemical communication is particularly important in rodents, carnivores, and ungulates, which have highly sensitive olfactory systems [1] . The coevolutionary process between signalers and receivers drives chemical signals to become diverse and specific. Many mammals have evolved several glandular and non-glandular sources to communicate different types of information [2,3] . Carnivores, in particular, use chemical communication substantially and anal (or anogenital) gland is present in most carnivores [4] , although it is still unclear whether it is due to convergence or divergence evolution. The gland secretion itself and its contaminating feces are rich sources of chemical signals. In addition, urine also widely contains chemical information in carnivores as well as other mammals [5,6] .Odors that serve to distinguish one individual from another member of the species are determined by polymorphic genes [7] . Genetically related individuals show similar odors, and kinship odor was first demonstrated to be present in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) [8] and wild beavers (Castor canadensis) [9] . Similar results

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“…breeding season). Zhang et al (2008) have identified individual "odour fingerprints" in the anal gland secretions of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) which have been used in wild census (Zhan et al, 2006). Recognition and monitoring of individual scents can provide accurate counts of endangered species (Kerley and Salkina, 2007).…”

Section: Population Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of chemical communication studies to mammalian conservation biology: A review

Campbell‐Palmer

Rosell

2011

Biological Conservation

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Potential Chemosignals in the Anogenital Gland Secretion of Giant Pandas, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, Associated with Sex and Individual Identity

Cited by 52 publications

References 26 publications

Reverse chemical ecology: Olfactory proteins from the giant panda and their interactions with putative pheromones and bamboo volatiles

Reverse chemical ecology: Olfactory proteins from the giant panda and their interactions with putative pheromones and bamboo volatiles

Male panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) urine contains kinship information

The importance of chemical communication studies to mammalian conservation biology: A review

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