Evolution of vomeronasal receptor 1 (V1R) genes in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).

Evolution of vomeronasal receptor 1 (V1R) genes in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus).
Gene. 2017 Nov 16;:
Authors: Moriya-Ito K, Hayakawa T, Suzuki H, Hagino-Yamagishi K, Nikaido M
Abstract
Pheromones are crucial for eliciting innate responses and inducing social and sexual behaviors in mammals. The vomeronasal receptor 1 genes, V1Rs, encode members of a pheromone receptor family that are mainly expressed in the vomeronasal organ (VNO). The V1R family shows extraordinary variety in gene number among vertebrates owing to successive gene gains and losses during evolution. Such diversity is believed to reflect a degree of dependence on the VNO. We investigated V1R evolution in primate lineages closely related to humans because these VNOs show a trend toward degeneration. We performed extensive phylogenetic analyses for V1Rs from a broad range of primate species. Although the decline of intact genes was evident in anthropoids (hominoids, Old World monkeys and New World monkeys), we found that a certain number of intact genes persist in New World monkeys. In one New World monkey species, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), we examined seven putatively functional V1Rs using in situ hybridization and reverse transcription-PCR. Based on their mRNA expression patterns in the VNO and other organs, two types of V1Rs emerged: the canonical class with VNO-specific expression, and a second group having more ubiquitous expression in va...

Source: Gene - November 16, 2017 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Moriya-Ito K, Hayakawa T, Suzuki H, Hagino-Yamagishi K, Nikaido M Tags: Gene Source Type: research