The Evolutionary Origin and Early Diversification of the Vertebrate Olfactory Mechanisms

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K15164
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 45020:Evolutionary biology-related
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Daichi 筑波大学, 生命環境系, 助教 (60866672)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ヌタウナギ / 嗅覚受容体

Outline of Final Research Achievements

First, we explored the olfactory receptor genes from the hagfish genome and conducted a molecular phylogenetic analysis. As a result, we found that the hagfish olfactory receptors show significant diversification, especially for V2R. Next, we performed transcriptome analysis and in situ hybridization. The results confirmed that most of the these olfactory receptor genes are expressed in the olfactory epithelium, and at least some of them are specifically expressed in the olfactory cells. These findings suggest that hagfish have diversified their olfactory reception mechanisms independently while retaining the ancestral state of vertebrates.

Free Research Field

進化形態学、神経行動学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

「原始的」な脊椎動物であるヌタウナギについて、嗅覚受容体（におい物質を受容するための分子）にどのようなものがあるのか調べた。その結果、ヌタウナギの系統だけで多様化した嗅覚受容体が多数見つかった。これらの受容体が、確かに嗅覚器に分布しており、嗅覚受容体としてはたらいていることが示唆された。この発見は、嗅覚の進化的起源と初期の多様化を理解するうえで重要なヒントとなる。