Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer
Sexual signals in animals encompass a variety of forms including visual, acoustic, and chemical signals that are fundamental for intra- and interspecific communication, including sexual selection processes. Among these, odor signals play a critical role. Chemical compounds involved in sexual signali...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/252 |
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| author | Camilla Broggini Paula V. Huertas-Abril Alberto Membrillo Eva de la Peña Nieves Abril Juan Carranza |
| author_facet | Camilla Broggini Paula V. Huertas-Abril Alberto Membrillo Eva de la Peña Nieves Abril Juan Carranza |
| author_sort | Camilla Broggini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sexual signals in animals encompass a variety of forms including visual, acoustic, and chemical signals that are fundamental for intra- and interspecific communication, including sexual selection processes. Among these, odor signals play a critical role. Chemical compounds involved in sexual signaling vary in nature, with lipids and proteins being particularly important. In the male Iberian red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus hispanicus</i>), the dark ventral patch has been identified as a key sexual signal during mating competition, associated with specific chemical compounds deposited during urination. Hair plays a significant role in this signaling due to its ability to retain compounds on the scales of the hair cuticle. In this study, we used a shotgun proteomic approach to investigate whether the ventral patch hair retains proteins on its surface that could reveal metabolic and cell-signaling adaptations potentially related to reproductive activity. Characterization of the origin and functionality of the proteins found in the hair of the dark ventral patch of male red deer, and their relationship to distinct metabolic pathways, provides an initial understanding of the potential role of these compounds in chemical communication in red deer intrasexual competition for mates. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-f9c6ff3f4476467ab40cedaea69adc992025-01-24T13:18:17ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115225210.3390/ani15020252Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red DeerCamilla Broggini0Paula V. Huertas-Abril1Alberto Membrillo2Eva de la Peña3Nieves Abril4Juan Carranza5Wildlife Research Unit (UIRCP-UCO), University of Cordoba, 14014 Cordoba, SpainDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, SpainWildlife Research Unit (UIRCP-UCO), University of Cordoba, 14014 Cordoba, SpainWildlife Research Unit (UIRCP-UCO), University of Cordoba, 14014 Cordoba, SpainDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Cordoba, 14071 Cordoba, SpainWildlife Research Unit (UIRCP-UCO), University of Cordoba, 14014 Cordoba, SpainSexual signals in animals encompass a variety of forms including visual, acoustic, and chemical signals that are fundamental for intra- and interspecific communication, including sexual selection processes. Among these, odor signals play a critical role. Chemical compounds involved in sexual signaling vary in nature, with lipids and proteins being particularly important. In the male Iberian red deer (<i>Cervus elaphus hispanicus</i>), the dark ventral patch has been identified as a key sexual signal during mating competition, associated with specific chemical compounds deposited during urination. Hair plays a significant role in this signaling due to its ability to retain compounds on the scales of the hair cuticle. In this study, we used a shotgun proteomic approach to investigate whether the ventral patch hair retains proteins on its surface that could reveal metabolic and cell-signaling adaptations potentially related to reproductive activity. Characterization of the origin and functionality of the proteins found in the hair of the dark ventral patch of male red deer, and their relationship to distinct metabolic pathways, provides an initial understanding of the potential role of these compounds in chemical communication in red deer intrasexual competition for mates.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/252<i>Cervus elaphus</i>chemical communicationshotgun proteomicsproteins |
| spellingShingle | Camilla Broggini Paula V. Huertas-Abril Alberto Membrillo Eva de la Peña Nieves Abril Juan Carranza Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer Animals <i>Cervus elaphus</i> chemical communication shotgun proteomics proteins |
| title | Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer |
| title_full | Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer |
| title_fullStr | Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer |
| title_short | Proteomics of the Dark-Ventral-Patch Sexual Signal in Male Red Deer |
| title_sort | proteomics of the dark ventral patch sexual signal in male red deer |
| topic | <i>Cervus elaphus</i> chemical communication shotgun proteomics proteins |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/2/252 |
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