Combinatorial co-expression of pheromone receptors, V2Rs.
Basal neurons of the vomeronasal organ of the mouse express a superfamily of about 120 pheromone receptors, named V2Rs, that are grouped in four families, A, B, C, and D, according to sequence homology. Family-A, -B, and -D V2Rs are expressed as one receptor gene per cell, but we previously reported their co-expression with family-C V2Rs. Here, we show that basal neurons can be further grouped according to the combinatorial expression of different V2Rs. Altogether, these findings suggest that in each basal neuron a transcriptional program is active for expressing a combination of two compatible receptors and for excluding, at the same time, the expression of all other V2Rs. Further analyses revealed non-random combinations of co-expression between family-C V2Rs and genes of the class Ib major histocompatibility complex. Thus, each basal neuron of the vomeronasal organ represents a highly qualified sensory unit for detecting very specific combinations of pheromonal cues.
Silvotti
Lucia
L
Department of Neuroscience, Section of Physiology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Moiani
Arianna
A
Gatti
Rita
R
Tirindelli
Roberto
R
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000166:cytology*
D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C098080:MICB antigen; D043563:Receptors, Pheromone