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Mol Biol Evol

Title:		Origin of the genetic components of the vomeronasal system in the common ancestor of all extant vertebrates
Author(s):		Grus WE; Zhang J;
Address:		"Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, USA"
Journal Title:		Mol Biol Evol
Year:		2009
Volume:		20081113
Issue:		2
Page Number:		407 - 419
DOI:		10.1093/molbev/msn262
ISSN/ISBN:		1537-1719 (Electronic) 0737-4038 (Print) 0737-4038 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Comparative genomics provides a valuable tool for inferring the evolutionary history of physiological systems, particularly when this information is difficult to ascertain by morphological traits. One such example is the vomeronasal system (VNS), a vertebrate nasal chemosensory system that is responsible for detecting intraspecific pheromonal cues as well as environmental odorants. The morphological components of the VNS are found only in tetrapods, but the genetic components of the system have been found in teleost fish, in addition to tetrapods. To determine when the genetic components of the VNS originated, we searched for the VNS-specific genes in the genomes of two early diverging vertebrate lineages: the sea lamprey from jawless fishes and the elephant shark from cartilaginous fishes. Genes encoding vomeronasal type 1 receptors (V1Rs) and Trpc2, two components of the vomeronasal signaling pathway, are present in the sea lamprey genome, and both are expressed in the olfactory organ, revealing that the genetic components of the present-day VNS existed in the common ancestor of all extant vertebrates. Additionally, all three VNS genes, Trpc2, V1Rs, and vomeronasal type 2 receptors (V2Rs), are found in the elephant shark genome. Because V1Rs and V2Rs are related to two families of taste receptors, we also searched the early diverging vertebrate genomes for taste system genes and found them in the shark genome but not in the lamprey. Coupled with known distributions of the genetic components of the vertebrate main olfactory system, our results suggest staggered origins of vertebrate sensory systems. These findings are important for understanding the evolution of vertebrate sensory systems and illustrate the utility of the genome sequences of early diverging vertebrates for uncovering the evolution of vertebrate-specific traits"
Keywords:		"Animals *Biological Evolution Chemotactic Factors/genetics Petromyzon/genetics Receptors, Pheromone/genetics Sharks/genetics TRPC Cation Channels/genetics Taste Vertebrates/*genetics/physiology *Vomeronasal Organ;"
Notes:		"MedlineGrus, Wendy E Zhang, Jianzhi eng R01 GM080285/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ T32 HG000040/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/ T32HG000040/HG/NHGRI NIH HHS/ GM80285/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2008/11/15 Mol Biol Evol. 2009 Feb; 26(2):407-19. doi: 10.1093/molbev/msn262. Epub 2008 Nov 13"