| Chemical characterization of territorial marking fluid of male Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 18437496 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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The territorial marking fluid of the male Bengal tiger, Panthera tigris, consists of a mixture of urine and a small quantity of lipid material that may act as a controlled-release carrier for the volatile constituents of the fluid. Using gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 98 volatile compounds and elemental sulfur were identified in the marking fluid. Another 16 volatiles were tentatively identified. The majority of these compounds were alkanols, alkanals, 2-alkanones, branched and unbranched alkanoic acids, dimethyl esters of dicarboxylic acids, gamma- and delta-lactones, and compounds containing nitrogen or sulfur. Several samples of the marking fluid contained pure (R)-3-methyl-2-octanone, (R)-3-methyl-2-nonanone, and (R)-3-methyl-2-decanone, but these ketones were partly or completely racemized in other samples. The gamma-lactone (S)-(+)-(Z)-6-dodecen-4-olide and the C(8) to C(16) saturated (R)-gamma-lactones and (S)-delta-lactones were present in high enantiomeric purities. The chiral carboxylic acids, 2-methylnonanoic acid, 2-methyldecanoic acid, 2-methylundecanoic acid, and 2-ethylhexanoic acid were racemates. Cadaverine, putrescine, and 2-acetylpyrroline, previously reported as constituents of tiger urine, were not detected. The dominant contribution of some ketones, fatty acids, and lactones to the composition of the headspace of the marking fluid suggests that these compounds may be important constituents of the pheromone. Although it constitutes only a small proportion, the lipid fraction of the fluid contained larger quantities of the volatile organic compounds than the aqueous fraction (urine). The lipid derives its role as controlled-release carrier of the chemical message left by the tiger, from its affinity for the volatiles of the marking fluid. Six proteins with masses ranging from 16 to 69 kDa, inter alia, the carboxylesterase-like urinary protein known as cauxin, previously identified in the urine of the domestic cat and other felid species, were identified in the urine fraction of the marking fluid. |
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Authors:
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B V Burger; M Z Viviers; J P I Bekker; M le Roux; N Fish; W B Fourie; G Weibchen |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2008-04-24 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of chemical ecology Volume: 34 ISSN: 0098-0331 ISO Abbreviation: J. Chem. Ecol. Publication Date: 2008 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2008-05-07 Completed Date: 2008-08-05 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7505563 Medline TA: J Chem Ecol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 659-71 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Laboratory for Ecological Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa. LECUS@sun.ac.za |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Amino Acid Sequence Animals Chromatography, Gas Male Mass Spectrometry Molecular Sequence Data Pheromones / chemistry* Proteins / chemistry Proteinuria Scent Glands / chemistry, physiology* Tigers / physiology* Volatilization |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Pheromones; 0/Proteins |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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