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Characterization of Cauxin in the Urine of Domestic and Big Cats

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Abstract

Cauxin is an abundant protein in feline urine. We have used proteomics strategies to characterize cauxin from the urine of domestic cats and a number of big cat species. Proteins were resolved by gel-based electrophoretic purification and subjected to in-gel digestion with trypsin. The resultant tryptic peptides were mass-measured by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. Peptides were also resolved by liquid chromatography and analyzed by electrospray ionization and tandem mass spectrometry to generate fragment ion data to infer the amino acid sequence. We identified cauxin polymorphisms and corrected a sequencing artifact in cauxin from the domestic cat. The proteomics data also provided positive evidence for the presence of a cauxin homolog in the urine of big cats (Pantherinae), including the Sumatran tiger, Asiatic lion, clouded leopard, Persian leopard, and jaguar. The levels of cauxin in the urine of all big cats were substantially lower than that in the urine of intact male domestic cats.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a grant from Pet Plan Charitable Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Proteomics and Functional Genomics Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Lynn McLean & Robert J. Beynon

  2. Mammalian Behaviour and Evolution Group, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Jane L. Hurst

  3. Division of Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZJ, UK

    Christopher J. Gaskell

  4. International Zoo Veterinary Group, Keighley Business Centre, South Street, Keighley, West Yorks, BD21 1AG, UK

    John C. M. Lewis

Authors
  1. Lynn McLean
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  2. Jane L. Hurst
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  3. Christopher J. Gaskell
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  4. John C. M. Lewis
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  5. Robert J. Beynon
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Correspondence to Robert J. Beynon.

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McLean, L., Hurst, J.L., Gaskell, C.J. et al. Characterization of Cauxin in the Urine of Domestic and Big Cats. J Chem Ecol 33, 1997–2009 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9354-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-007-9354-6

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