Darcin and the neural circuits it activates

Ebru Demir, Kenneth Li, Natasha Bobrowski-Khoury, Joshua I Sanders, Robert J Beynon, Jane L Hurst, Adam Kepecs, Richard Axel (2020) The pheromone darcin drives a circuit for innate and reinforced behaviours [PDF] [PUBMED] [DOI] [Abstract...]

MUPs shape the volatile odours of mice

Roberts SA, Prescott MC, Davidson AJ, McLean L, Beynon RJ, Hurst JL. (2018) Individual odour signatures that mice learn are shaped by involatile major urinary proteins (MUPs). [PUBMED] [PDF] [Abstract...]

Darcin stimulates neurogenesis

Hoffman, E., Pickavance, L., Thippeswamy, T., Beynon, R.J. & Hurst, J.L. (2015) The male sex pheromone darcin stimulates hippocampal neurogenesis and cell proliferation in the subventricular zone in female mice. [PUBMED] [PDF] [Abstract...]

Sex pheromones are not aways attractive

Lanuza, E., Martin-Sanchez, A., Marco-Manclus, P., Cadiz-Moretti, B., Fortes-Marcw, L., Henandez-Martinez, A., Mclean, L., Beynon, R.J., Hurst, J.L. & Martinz-Garcia, F (2014) Sex pheromones are not always attractive: changes induced by learning and illness in mice. [PDF]
[Abstract...]

Darcin three dimensional structure solved!

Phelan, M.M., McLean, L., Armstrong, S.D., Hurst, J.L., Beynon, R.J. & Lian, L-Y. (2014) The structure, stability and pheromone binding of the male mouse protein sex pheromone darcin. [PUBMED][PDF] [Abstract...]

Structural comparison of central and peripheral mouse MUPs

Phelan MM, McLean L, Hurst JL, Beynon RJ, Lian LY. (2014) Comparative study of the molecular variation between 'central' and 'peripheral' MUPs and significance for behavioural signalling. [PUBMED][PDF]
[Abstract...]

Romeo, Romeo, 'whiff'-fore art thou, Romeo?

Sarah A. Roberts, Amanda J. Davidson, Lynn McLean, Robert J. Beynon, Jane L. Hurst (2012) Pheromonal Induction of Spatial Learning in Mice. [PUBMED] [PDF] [Abstract...]

Darcin NMR structure lodged

Phelan MM, McLean L, Simpson DM, Hurst JL, Beynon RJ, Lian LY. (2010) (1)H, (15)N and (13)C resonance assignment of darcin, a mouse major urinary protein. Biomol NMR Assign. 2010 Aug 12[PUBMED] [Abstract...]

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a mouse in possession of darcin must be in want of a mate.

Nominated as 'Exceptional' by Etienne Joly in Faculty1000 Biology (http://f1000biology.com)
Roberts SA, Simpson, Armstrong, Davidson, Robertson, McLean, Beynon & Hurst JL (2010) Darcin: a male pheromone that stimulates female memory and sexual attraction to an individual male's odour. BMC Biology 8:75. [PUBMED][PDF] [Abstract...]

Identification of an atypical male-specific MUP in mouse urine

Armstrong, S.D., Robertson, D.H.L., Cheetham, S.A., Hurst, J.L. & Beynon, R.J. (2005) Structural and functional differences in isoforms of Major Urinary Proteins: a male specific protein that preferentially binds a male pheromone. Biochem. J. 391, 343-350 [PUBMED] [PDF] [Abstract...]