Title: | Vomeronasal Receptors in Vertebrates and the Evolution of Pheromone Detection |
Address: | "CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal; email: aantunes@ciimar.up.pt. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal" |
DOI: | 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022801 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 2165-8110 (Electronic) 2165-8102 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Pheromones were identified as chemical signals used for intraspecific communication in insects (e.g., sexual attraction) in the 1950s. However, only almost 40 years later the vomeronasal receptors type-1 (V1R) and type-2 (V2R) were identified, usually associated with the presence of a vomeronasal organ (VNO). VRs are widespread in amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, but birds lost the VNO. Similarly, fishes lack VRs and a VNO but can still detect pheromones, instead using the olfactory receptors related to class A and class C G protein-coupled receptors. Here, we review recent evidence on VR repertoire contraction/expansion in vertebrates. We assess the association between VNO development and VR repertoire size. Phylogenetic relationships and selective pressures illuminate the dynamic evolutionary history of the VRs in vertebrates" |
Keywords: | "Animals Chemotactic Factors *Evolution, Molecular *Pheromones Phylogeny Receptors, Odorant/genetics/physiology Vertebrates/genetics/*physiology Vomeronasal Organ/*physiology OlfC Ora Trpc2 Vno Vr olfactory receptor related to class C GPCRs olfactory recep;" |
Notes: | "MedlineSilva, Liliana Antunes, Agostinho eng Review 2016/12/04 Annu Rev Anim Biosci. 2017 Feb 8; 5:353-370. doi: 10.1146/annurev-animal-022516-022801. Epub 2016 Nov 28" |