The molecular evolutionary dynamics of the vomeronasal receptor (class 1) genes in primates: a gene family on the verge of a functional breakdown.

摘要: Olfaction plays a critical role in both survival of the individual and propagation species. Studies from across mammalian clade have found remarkable correlation between organismal lifestyle molecular evolutionary properties receptor genes main olfactory system (MOS) vomeronasal (VNS). When large proportion intact (and putatively functional) copies is observed, inference made that particular mode chemoreception for an organism’s fit to its environment thus under strong positive selection. Conversely, when receptors question show disproportionately number pseudogene copies, this contraction interpreted as evidence relaxed selection potentially leading gene family extinction. Notably, it appears risk factor extinction high rate nonsynonymous substitution. A survey vs. among primate Class one (V1Rs) substantiate hypothesis. Molecular complexities V1R combine rapid rates duplication, conversion, lineage-specific expansions, deletions, and/or pseudogenization. An intricate mix phylogenetic footprints current adaptive landscapes left their mark on V1Rs suggesting offers ideal model exploring functional VNS mammals. Primate tell story ancestral function divergent species moved into ever diversifying regimes. The sensitivity collapse these genes, consequent precariously substitution, confer capacity reveal lifestyles genomes they presently occupy well those ancestors.