Diversity and evolution of the vertebrate chemoreceptor gene repertoire

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Abstract Chemoreception – the ability to smell and taste is an essential sensory modality of most animals. The number type chemical stimuli that animals can perceive depends primarily on diversity chemoreceptors they possess express. In vertebrates, six families G protein-coupled receptors form core their chemosensory system, olfactory/pheromone receptor gene OR , TAAR V1R V2R T1R T2R . Here, we study vertebrate chemoreceptor repertoire its evolutionary history. Through examination 1,527 genomes, uncover substantial differences in composition across vertebrates. We show are co-evolving, highly dynamic, characterized by lineage-specific expansions (for example, tetrapods; teleosts; mammals; amphibians) losses. Overall, amphibians, followed mammals, clades with largest repertoires. While marine tetrapods feature a convergent reduction numbers, genes correlates habitat mammals birds migratory behavior birds, diet aquatic environment fish.

Language: Английский

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Diversity and Evolution of Frog Visual Opsins: Spectral Tuning and Adaptation to Distinct Light Environments

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 41(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Visual systems adapt to different light environments through several avenues including optical changes the eye and neurological in how signals are processed interpreted. Spectral sensitivity can evolve via visual pigments housed retinal photoreceptors gene duplication loss, differential coexpression, sequence evolution. Frogs provide an excellent, yet understudied, system for evolution research due their diversity of ecologies (including biphasic aquatic-terrestrial life cycles) that we hypothesize imposed selective pressures leading adaptive system, notably opsins encode protein component responsible first step perception. Here, analyze opsin genes from 93 new transcriptomes plus published data a combined dataset spanning 122 frog species 34 families. We find most express four previously identified frogs but show evidence loss two lineages. Further, present positive selection three shifts associated with differences habitat history, not activity pattern. identify substantial novel variation and, using microspectrophotometry, highly variable spectral sensitivities, expanding known ranges all pigments. Mutations at spectral-tuning sites only partially account this variation, suggesting have used tuning pathways unique among vertebrates. These results support hypothesis photoreceptor physiology across tree response varying environmental ecological factors further our growing understanding vertebrate

Language: Английский

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Introgression dynamics of sex-linked chromosomal inversions shape the Malawi cichlid adaptive radiation

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: July 29, 2024

Abstract Chromosomal inversions contribute to adaptive speciation by linking co-adapted alleles. Querying 1,375 genomes of the species-rich Malawi cichlid fish radiation, we discovered five large segregating in benthic subradiation that each suppress recombination over more than half a chromosome. Two were transferred from deepwater pelagic Diplotaxodon via admixture, while others established early deep clade. Introgression haplotypes lineages inside and outside radiation coincided with bursts species diversification. Inversions show evidence for transient sex linkage striking excess protein changing substitutions points towards selection on neuro-sensory, physiological reproductive genes. We conclude repeated interplay between depth adaptation sex-specific has been central evolution this iconic system.

Language: Английский

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Evolution of Sensory Receptors

Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 40(1), P. 353 - 379

Published: July 10, 2024

Sensory receptors are at the interface between an organism and its environment thus represent key sites for biological innovation. Here, we survey major sensory receptor families to uncover emerging evolutionary patterns. Receptors touch, temperature, light constitute part of ancestral toolkit animals, often predating evolution multicellularity nervous system. In contrast, chemoreceptors exhibit a dynamic history lineage-specific expansions contractions correlated with disparate complexity chemical environments. A recurring theme includes independent transitions from neurotransmitter diverse stimuli outside world. We then provide overview mechanisms underlying diversification highlight examples where signatures natural selection used identify novel adaptations. Finally, discuss as hotspots driving reproductive isolation speciation, thereby contributing stunning diversity animals.

Language: Английский

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The vertebrate retina: a window into the evolution of computation in the brain

Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 57, P. 101391 - 101391

Published: April 17, 2024

Animal brains are probably the most complex computational machines on our planet, and like everything in biology, they product of evolution. Advances developmental palaeobiology have been expanding general understanding how nervous systems can change at a molecular structural level. However, these changes translate into altered function — that is, 'computation' remains comparatively sparsely explored. What, concretely, does it mean for neuronal computation when neurons their morphology connectivity, new appear or old ones disappear, transmitter slowly modified over many generations? And evolution use possible knobs dials to constantly tune give rise amazing diversity animal behaviours we see today? Addressing major gaps benefits from choosing suitable model system. Here, I present vertebrate retina as one perhaps unusually promising candidate. The is ancient displays highly conserved core organisational principles across entire lineage, alongside myriad adjustments extant species were shaped by history visual ecology. Moreover, logic readily interrogated experimentally, existing retinal circuits handful serve an anchor exploring circuit adaptations tree life, fish deep aphotic zone oceans eagles soaring high up sky.

Language: Английский

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Emotional contagion and prosocial behaviour in fish: An evolutionary and mechanistic approach

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 163, P. 105780 - 105780

Published: June 30, 2024

In this review, we consider the definitions and experimental approaches to emotional contagion prosocial behaviour in mammals explore their evolutionary conceptualisation for studying occurrence evolutionarily divergent vertebrate group of ray-finned fish. We present evidence a diverse set fish phenotypes that meet definitional criteria discuss conserved mechanisms may account some preserved social capacities Finally, provide considerations on how address question interdependency between response, highlighting importance recognition processes, decision-making systems, ecological context providing explanations.

Language: Английский

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The transcriptional landscape underlying larval development and metamorphosis in the Malabar grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus)

eLife, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Most teleost fishes exhibit a biphasic life history with larval oceanic phase that is transformed into morphologically and physiologically different demersal, benthic, or pelagic juveniles. This process of transformation characterized by myriad hormone-induced changes, during the often abrupt transition between juvenile phases called metamorphosis. Thyroid hormones (TH) are known to be instrumental in triggering coordinating this but other hormonal systems such as corticoids, might also involved it case amphibians. In order investigate potential involvement these two pathways marine fish post-embryonic development, we used Malabar grouper ( Epinephelus malabaricus ) model system. We assembled chromosome-scale genome sequence conducted transcriptomic analysis nine developmental stages. studied expression patterns genes TH corticoid pathways, well four biological processes regulated species: ossification, pigmentation, visual perception, metabolism. Surprisingly, observed an activation many same metamorphosis at early stage suggesting additional implication formation features. Overall, our data brings new evidence controversial interplay corticoids thyroid as, surprisingly, development. Further experiments will needed precise role both distinct periods whether occurs species.

Language: Английский

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Visual opsin gene expression evolution in the adaptive radiation of cichlid fishes of Lake Tanganyika

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(36)

Published: Sept. 6, 2023

Tuning the visual sensory system to ambient light is essential for survival in many animal species. This often achieved through duplication, functional diversification, and/or differential expression of opsin genes. Here, we examined 753 new retinal transcriptomes from 112 species cichlid fishes Lake Tanganyika unravel adaptive changes gene at macro-evolutionary and ecosystem level one largest vertebrate radiations. We found that, across radiation, all seven cone opsins-but not rhodopsin-rank among most differentially expressed genes retina, together with other vision-, circadian rhythm-, hemoglobin-related propose two palettes characteristic very shallow- deep-water living species, respectively, show that adaptations along major ecological axes, macro-habitat diet, occur primarily via variation a subset

Language: Английский

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Short‐wavelength‐sensitive 1 (SWS1) opsin gene duplications and parallel visual pigment tuning support ultraviolet communication in damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Damselfishes (Pomacentridae) are one of the most behaviourally diverse, colourful and species‐rich reef fish families. One remarkable characteristic damselfishes is their communication in ultraviolet (UV) light. Not only they sensitive to UV, also prone have UV‐reflective colours patterns enabling social signalling. Using more than 50 species, we aimed uncover evolutionary history UV colour vision damselfishes. All had UV‐transmitting lenses, expressed UV‐sensitive SWS1 opsin gene, displayed colours. We find evidence for several tuning events across radiation, while gene duplications generally very rare among teleosts, our phylogenetic reconstructions uncovered two independent duplication events: close base clade subfamily Pomacentrinae, a single Chromis species. amino acid comparisons, found that known spectral sites were altered times parallel damselfish radiation (through sequence change followed by change), causing repeated shifts peak absorbance around 10 nm. Pomacentrinae either or both copies , likely further finetune UV‐signal detection differentiation. This highly advanced modified damselfishes, particular might be seen as key innovation facilitated evolution exuberant variety UV‐reflectance traits diversification this coral lineage.

Language: Английский

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Caecilians maintain a functional long-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin gene despite signatures of relaxed selection and more than 200 million years of fossoriality

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 8, 2025

ABSTRACT Visual systems are tuned to animals’ ecologies, evolving in response specific light environments and visual needs. Ecological transitions fossorial lifestyles impose strong selective pressures favoring morphological adaptations for underground life, such as increased skull ossification reduced eye protrusion. Fossoriality may simultaneously relax constraints on other aspects of vision leading diminished capabilities. Caecilians (Gymnophiona)— specialized, amphibians—possess eyes covered by skin or bone. For years, these traits, along with the presence a single photoreceptor expressing one functional opsin gene, have been interpreted evidence limited capabilities, including an inability focus perceive color. Our results challenge assumptions: we identified long-wavelength-sensitive ( LWS ) gene 11 species caecilians spanning 8 10 recognized families. Molecular indicates that is intact transcribed at least Caecilia orientalis ). Anatomical observations from five caecilian families indicate highly organized retinae even vestigial eyes. While cone cells our study remains uncertain, putatively suggests capabilities role perception their ecology be underestimated.

Language: Английский

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