title: Vomeronasal Receptors in Vertebrates and the Evolution of Pheromone Detection.
abstract: Pheromones were identified as chemical signals used for intraspecific communication in insects (e.g., sexual attraction) in the 1950s. However, only almost 40 years later the vomeronasal receptors type-1 (V1R) and type-2 (V2R) were identified, usually associated with the presence of a vomeronasal organ (VNO). VRs are widespread in amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, but birds lost the VNO. Similarly, fishes lack VRs and a VNO but can still detect pheromones, instead using the olfactory receptors related to class A and class C G protein-coupled receptors. Here, we review recent evidence on VR repertoire contraction/expansion in vertebrates. We assess the association between VNO development and VR repertoire size. Phylogenetic relationships and selective pressures illuminate the dynamic evolutionary history of the VRs in vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal; email: aantunes@ciimar.up.pt.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, 4050-208 Porto, Portugal; email: aantunes@ciimar.up.pt.|Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Agostinho
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D010675:Pheromones; D010802:Phylogeny; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D019147:Vomeronasal Organ / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D010675:Pheromones; D018035:Receptors, Odorant
keywords: OlfC; Ora; TRPC2; VNO; VR; olfactory receptor related to class C GPCRs; olfactory receptors related to class A GPCRs; transient receptor potential channel 2; vomeronasal organ; vomeronasal receptor