Molecular evolution of OVGP1 gene in the Murinae subfamily
Genes encoding proteins related to reproduction show high levels of sequence divergence be-tween mammalian species. Throughout evolution, there has been a progressive loss of genes encoding oviductal proteins undergoing particularly rapid evolution. This fact suggests a diver-sification of their functions and role in the different species, with a possible impact on the speci-ation process. In this work, the evolution of OVGP1, a gene coding for the oviduct-specific gly-coprotein, was analysed by phylogenetic analysis in several rodents of the Murinae subfamily. Within this subfamily Ovgp1 is a functional gene in the mouse and OVGP1 is pseudogenized in the rat. This analysis allowed us to determine when this pseudogenization event occurred and which other species of the subfamily are affected. Due to the potential reproductive function of OVGP1 in other mammalian species, being essential for fertility in the golden hamster, we have studied possible candidates to supply its function in rats, determining by molecular and prote-omic techniques the expression and oviductal presence of 5 members of the GH18 family, family where OVGP1 is framed: CHIA, CHIT1, CHIT3L1, CHID1 and CTBS.