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Tannin-binding proteins in saliva of deer and their absence in saliva of sheep and cattle

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Abstract

A method has been developed for detecting tannin-binding proteins in the saliva of herbivores. The method is simple and requires only small quantities of crude saliva. The saliva of deer, a browsing ruminant, has been compared to that of domestic sheep and cow, which are grazing ruminants. The browser, which normally ingests dietary tannin, produces tannin-binding proteins, while the grazers do not produce such proteins. The tannin-binding protein from deer saliva is a small glycoprotein containing large amounts of proline, glycine, and glutamate/glutamine. The protein is not closely related to the proline-rich salivary proteins found in rats and other nonruminant mammals.

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Austin, P.J., Suchar, L.A., Robbins, C.T. et al. Tannin-binding proteins in saliva of deer and their absence in saliva of sheep and cattle. J Chem Ecol 15, 1335–1347 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014834

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01014834

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