The scent gland composition of the Mangshan pit viper, <i>Protobothrops mangshanensis</i>.

ABSTRACT: The Mangshan pit viper, Protobothrops mangshanensis, is a rare, highly endangered snake native to the mountainous regions of Hunan Province in China. Snakes possess abdominal scent glands, which have been chemically studied in several species. These glands can contain various lipids and peptides, but very often also complex mixtures of carboxylic acids. We report here the occurrence of novel methyl-branched unsaturated acids found in the secretions of six captive individuals living in a zoo. The structures of these compounds, 4.6-dimethylalk-5-enoates in a homologous series from C₁₁-C₁₆, were characterized by GC-MS and GC-IR analysis and various microderivatization reactions including hydrogenation and esterification leading to methyl and pyridylmethyl esters.

SUBMITTER: Holste J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11496706 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature