Cited by 83Olfactory and Sensory Function StudiesBiochemical Analysis and Sensing TechniquesComparative Animal Anatomy Studies

Largest Vertebrate Vomeronasal Type 1 Receptor Gene Repertoire in the Semiaquatic Platypus

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Grus, W. E., Shi, P., Zhang, J.·2007·Molecular Biology and Evolution

Abstract

Vertebrate vomeronasal chemoreception plays important roles in many aspects of an organism's daily life, such as mating, territoriality, and foraging. Vomeronasal type 1 receptors (V1Rs) and vomeronasal type 2 receptors (V2Rs), 2 large families of G protein-coupled receptors, serve as vomeronasal receptors to bind to various pheromones and odorants. Contrary to the previous observations of reduced olfaction in aquatic and semiaquatic mammals, we here report the surprising finding that the platypus, a semiaquatic monotreme, has the largest V1R repertoire and nearly largest combined repertoire of V1Rs and V2Rs of all vertebrates surveyed, with 270 intact genes and 579 pseudogenes in the V1R family and 15 intact genes, 55 potentially intact genes, and 57 pseudogenes in the V2R family. Phylogenetic analysis shows a remarkable expansion of the V1R repertoire and a moderate expansion of the V2R repertoire in platypus since the separation of monotremes from placentals and marsupials. Our results challenge the view that olfaction is unimportant to aquatic mammals and call for further study into the role of vomeronasal reception in platypus physiology and behavior.

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  • Large numbers of odorant receptor, V1R and V2R homologues (approximately 700, 950 and 80, respectively) are apparent in the platypus genome assembly, with only a minority lacking frame disruptions (approximately 333, 270 and 15, respectively).

    “Nevertheless large numbers of odorant receptor, V1R and V2R homologues (approximately 700, 950 and 80, respectively) are apparent in the platypus genome assembly, although for each family only a minority lack frame disruptions (approximately 333, 270 and 15, respectively) 34 .”

    From Genome analysis of the platypus reveals unique signatures of evolution (2008) · cites this paper as [34]

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Authors
Grus, W. E., Shi, P., & Zhang, J.
Affiliations
University of Michigan (US)
Venue
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Published
2007-07-21
Volume
24
Issue
10
Pages
2153-2157
ISSN
  • 0737-4038 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-1719
OpenAlex
W2105635586
Cited by
83
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
FWCI
5.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Molecular Biology and Evolution (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (T32HG000040)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (GM80285, R01GM080285)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Biochemical Analysis and Sensing Techniques
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
Keywords
platypus, monotremes, G protein-coupled receptors, pseudogenes, pheromone detection, gene family expansion, phylogenetic analysis
MeSH terms
Animals, Chemotactic Factors, Multigene Family, Humans, Phylogeny, Platypus, Smell, Vertebrates, Receptors, Odorant, Evolution, Molecular, Vomeronasal Organ, Databases, Nucleic Acid

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