Molecular evolutionary study on a novel pheromone receptor gene common in most vertebrates from fish to mammals

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25440189
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Evolutionary biology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nikaido Masato 東京工業大学, 生命理工学研究科, 准教授 (70432010)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: フェロモン受容体 / 嗅上皮 / 鋤鼻上皮 / 脊椎動物 / ancV1R

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We recently found one pheromone receptor gene, which is common in most vertebrates (named it ancV1R). To understand the evolutionary origin and the contribution of ancV1R receptor in reproductive behavior of vertebrates, we analyzed this receptor gene from several aspects. First, mRNA of ancV1R gene was shown to be expressed in the entire region of the vomeronasal organ. Furthermore, the pseudonization of ancV1R gene was apparently correlated with the degeneration of vomeronasal organ in most cases we investigated. The above results imply that the ancV1R has the central role in pheromone detection through vomeronasal sensory neurons. We also succeeded in the expression of ancV1R in cultured cell and in the construction of ancV1R-knock-out mice. These experimental systems will be used for the future functional elucidation.

Free Research Field

進化生物学