Collaborative Research: A functional complex of mating behavior traits features hypervariable protein pheromones.

合作研究：交配行为特征的功能复合体以高度可变的蛋白质信息素为特征。

• 批准号: 1146899
• 负责人: Richard Feldhoff
• 金额: $ 43万
• 依托单位: University of Louisville Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-06-15 至 2017-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1146899&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; functional; complex; mating

Courtship behavior in animals typically involves gaining the attention of a potential mate by using a complicated set of behaviors: visual cues, physical contact, vocalizations, or pheromones. Many vertebrates produce pheromones that affect male-female interactions. In our salamander mating system, male pheromones are delivered during courtship when a female requires persuasion to respond to the male. This study system has focused on terrestrial salamanders because these vertebrate animals have a mating system that is strongly based on pheromone communication during courtship. What we can learn from pheromone communication in salamanders will relate to chemical communication across all vertebrates, including humans. In past work, this group has documented the effect of male courtship pheromones on female reproductive behavior. These pheromones clearly act to increase the female's receptivity to the male. This research team also has basic information about the biochemical nature of the male pheromones: non-volatile proteins that can be synthesized. This new research addresses questions on how a male's pheromone mixture actually functions to stimulate a female, with pheromone effects measured in terms of her olfactory response, brain activity, and mating behavior. Female responses to specific mixtures of synthesized pheromones will be recorded. This group expects that (a) pheromone proteins will elicit the stronger effects when used in combination, and (b) females vary in their preference for particular combinations. A strength of our proposal is that both graduate and undergraduate students will receive interdisciplinary training in at least three different research laboratories focusing on different areas of the proposal (biochemistry, behavioral science, and neurohistology), as well as field research experience collecting and maintaining salamanders. This team will continue their outreach efforts with university and local high school science programs to enhance students' understanding of scientific research.

动物的求偶行为通常涉及通过使用一系列复杂的行为来吸引潜在配偶的注意力：视觉暗示、身体接触、发声或信息素。许多脊椎动物产生影响雄性和雌性相互作用的信息素。在我们的蝾螈交配系统中，当雌性需要说服对雄性做出反应时，雄性信息素会在求偶期间释放。该研究系统重点关注陆生蝾螈，因为这些脊椎动物的交配系统很大程度上基于求爱期间的信息素通讯。我们从蝾螈的信息素通讯中学到的东西将与包括人类在内的所有脊椎动物的化学通讯有关。 在过去的工作中，该小组记录了雄性求爱信息素对雌性生殖行为的影响。 这些信息素显然可以增加雌性对雄性的接受度。该研究小组还掌握了有关雄性信息素生化性质的基本信息：可合成的非挥发性蛋白质。这项新研究解决了雄性信息素混合物实际上如何发挥作用来刺激雌性的问题，并根据雌性的嗅觉反应、大脑活动和交配行为来测量信息素的效果。女性对合成信息素的特定混合物的反应将被记录。该小组预计（a）信息素蛋白在组合使用时会产生更强的效果，（b）女性对特定组合的偏好各不相同。我们提案的优势在于，研究生和本科生将在至少三个不同的研究实验室接受跨学科培训，重点关注提案的不同领域（生物化学、行为科学和神经组织学），以及收集和维护蝾螈的现场研究经验。该团队将继续与大学和当地高中的科学项目合作，以增强学生对科学研究的理解。