I wonder where the following two types of ‘potential pheromones’ fits into this Releaser/Primer pheromone distinction?
“…The present invention provides a novel human phermone protein, designated “ZHMUP-2,” which is a member of the lipocalin family, and structurally related to murine major urinary proteins and porcine sex-specific salivary lipocalin. The present invention also provides ZHMUP-2 variant polypeptides and ZHMUP-2 fusion proteins, as well as nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides and proteins, and methods for using these nucleic acid molecules and amino acid sequences…”
“…The present invention describes novel uses for two human lipocalin proteins, glycodelin and Zlipo1, that are expressed in the genital tract and in the breast. Their expression in these tissues and their structural similarity to known rodent pheromones and pheromone carrier proteins indicate that these lipocalin proteins are useful in olfaction-mediated chemical communication between individuals…”
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/20060039883.html
"Title:
Biologically active compounds for the modification of bodily odours
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 20060039883
…
Abstract:
The invention relates to the use of MHC ligands, e.g. MHC-binding peptides, for the manufacture of an agent for modifying bodily odours. Particularly, the invention is applicable in the field of cosmetics and medicine.
Inventors:
Boehm, Thomas (Vorstetten, DE),
Milinski, Manfred (Plon, DE, US)
Application Number:
512555
Filing Date:
04/25/2003
Publication Date:
02/23/2006
…
[0010] A preferred embodiment of the invention relates to the fields of cosmetics, particularly the manufacture of a perfume. Up to now the composing of perfumes was performed with natural or synthetic basic materials, based on empirical knowledge. In the light of the findings underlying the present invention the bodily odour can be influenced in a predetermined manner by means of adding defined MHC ligands or rather combinations of several MHC ligands to perfumes. Moreover, synthetic peptides can completely or at least partially substitute the costly substances present in perfumes so far, in order to achieve a cheaper and chemically defined composition of perfumes.
…
EXAMPLE 3
[0037] Olfactorial Quality of Peptides in Humans
[0038] In order to test whether MHC class I peptides can be recognized by human beings, the following three experiments were conducted.
Experiment 1:
[0039] Several individuals were asked to evaluate the odour of a number of aqueous solutions. A prototypical MHC class I peptide (SLLPAIVEL), a known ligand of the A’02xx allele, or an equimolar mixture of the corresponding amino acids (S, L, P, A, I, V, E) were added to solvent (phosphate buffered saline) at final concentrations of 0.5 mM. These solutions were offered in pairs and the test persons were asked to decide whether the two solutions smelled similar or different. The results are shown in Table 4. The probands easily distinguish peptides from amino acids. Probands, however, could not distinguish ( 1/13) an amino acid containing solution from the pure solvent, suggesting that peptides carry a distinct olfactorial quality.
Experiment 2:
[0040] Two female individuals whose HLA-haplotypes were known were asked to evaluate the quality of two different solutions. Solution A consisted of a perfume base (Moschus: 1 g in 70 g 96% aqueous ethanol plus 10 g distilled water) only, solution B contained in addition the SLLPAIVELL peptide (final concentration 100 nM). The probands were asked which solution they would prefer as their own perfume. The results are shown in Table 5. Proband 1, who carries the A’02’’ allele, prefers the spiked solution, proband 2, who does not carry an A’02 allele, rejects it. In other words, although proband 1 has little preference for the perfume base, the addition of a MHC class I self-peptide increases the attractiveness. Proband 2, in contrast, shows a higher initial preference for the perfume base; however, in this case, the attractiveness is drastically diminished by the addition of a non-self-MHC class I peptide. This suggests that the presence of peptides is differentially assessed depending on the proband’s HLA status.
Experiment 3:
[0041] Proband 1 was asked to compare SLLPAIVELL peptide (solution C) against a solution containing a mutated version (SALPAIVELA, solution D). In the latter peptide, the anchor residues (Ref. 2) that mediate binding (Ref. 33) to the MHC molecule were changed to alanine; in essence, this peptide would not be able to bind to an A’02 molecule and hence would not function as a self-peptide. In this particular instance, the perfume base was Ambra (1 g in 70 g 96% aqueous ethanol plus 10 g distilled water). The proband was asked which solution she would prefer as her own perfume. The results indicate a preference for solution C over D (scores 4.6 vs 2.9; score width 0 to 7). This indicates that the amino acid composition of peptides modifies their olfactorial quality.
[0042] All three experiments show that humans are capable of detecting peptides in aqueous solutions and that their olfactorial quality may be differentially perceived according to the HLA status of the proband. Thus, peptides may modify the quality of perfume compositions and hence body odour…"
http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.37.091305.110242 (http://arjournals.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.37.091305.110242)
Abstract
Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics
Vol. 37: 159-186 (Volume publication date December 2006)
(doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.37.091305.110242)
First published online as a Review in Advance on July 27, 2006
The Major Histocompatibility Complex, Sexual Selection, and Mate Choice
Manfred Milinski****
Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Max Planck Institute of Limnology, D-24306 Pherlureön, Germany; email: milinski@mpil-ploen.mpg.de
To maintain sexual reproduction, recombination of good genes through selective mate choice must achieve a twofold genetic benefit in each generation. “Fragrant” immune genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allow the choosy sex to complement her own set of alleles with a more or less diverse set of male alleles to reach an optimal number of different MHC alleles for the offspring. The optimal complement from the partner should include those MHC alleles that provide resistance against the current parasites, which could be revealed by the expression of costly secondary sexual characters. This maximizes resistance to ever-changing infectious diseases. Because the advantage of sex must be produced through recombination, assortative mating should combine currently advantageous MHC alleles. Preferring just MHC dissimilar mates is only a best-of-bad-job rule. MHC ligand peptides may be the natural “perfume” that reveals a potential partner’s MHC genetics probably in all vertebrates. Perfumes may mimick MHC related signals.