title: Evolution and comparative genomics of odorant- and pheromone-associated genes in rodents.
abstract: Chemical cues influence a range of behavioral responses in rodents. The involvement of protein odorants and odorant receptors in mediating reproductive behavior, foraging, and predator avoidance suggests that their genes may have been subject to adaptive evolution. We have estimated the consequences of selection on rodent pheromones, their receptors, and olfactory receptors. These families were chosen on the basis of multiple gene duplications since the common ancestor of rat and mouse. For each family, codons were identified that are likely to have been subject to adaptive evolution. The majority of such sites are situated on the solvent-accessible surfaces of putative pheromones and the lumenal portions of their likely receptors. We predict that these contribute to physicochemical and functional diversity within pheromone-receptor interaction sites.
authors.affiliation: MRC Functional Genetics Unit, Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Emes
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Beatson
authors.forename: Chris P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ponting
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goodstadt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / Q000235:genetics; D020440:Gene Duplication; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics; D010675:Pheromones / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044385:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits; D044387:GTP-Binding Protein beta Subunits; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone