Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorStathopoulos, Sofiaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBishop, Jacqueline Men_ZA
dc.contributor.authorO'Ryan, Colleenen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-10T14:48:44Z
dc.date.available2015-11-10T14:48:44Z
dc.date.issued2014en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe Olfactory Receptor (OR) superfamily, the largest in the vertebrate genome, is responsible for vertebrate olfaction and is traditionally subdivided into 17 OR families. Recent studies characterising whole-OR subgenomes revealed a ‘birth and death’ model of evolution for a range of species, however little is known about fine-scale evolutionary dynamics within single-OR families. This study reports the first assessment of fine-scale OR evolution and variation in African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), a family of subterranean rodents endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the selective pressures of life underground, enhanced olfaction is proposed to be fundamental to the evolutionary success of the Bathyergidae, resulting in a highly diversified OR gene-repertoire. Using a PCR-sequencing approach, we analysed variation in the OR7 family across 14 extant bathyergid species, which revealed enhanced levels of functional polymorphisms concentrated across the receptors’ ligand-binding region. We propose that mole-rats are able to recognise a broad range of odorants and that this diversity is reflected throughout their OR7 gene repertoire. Using both classic tests and tree-based methods to test for signals of selection, we investigate evolutionary forces across the mole-rat OR7 gene tree. Four well-supported clades emerged in the OR phylogeny, with varying signals of selection; from neutrality to positive and purifying selection. Bathyergid life-history traits and environmental niche-specialisation are explored as possible drivers of adaptive OR evolution, emerging as non-exclusive contributors to the positive selection observed at OR7 genes. Our results reveal unexpected complexity of evolutionary mechanisms acting within a single OR family, providing insightful perspectives into OR evolutionary dynamics.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationStathopoulos, S., Bishop, J. M., & O'Ryan, C. (2014). Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats. <i>PLoS One</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14837en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationStathopoulos, Sofia, Jacqueline M Bishop, and Colleen O'Ryan "Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats." <i>PLoS One</i> (2014) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14837en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationStathopoulos, S., Bishop, J. M., & O'Ryan, C. (2013). Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats. PloS one, 9(4), e93336. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093336en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Stathopoulos, Sofia AU - Bishop, Jacqueline M AU - O'Ryan, Colleen AB - The Olfactory Receptor (OR) superfamily, the largest in the vertebrate genome, is responsible for vertebrate olfaction and is traditionally subdivided into 17 OR families. Recent studies characterising whole-OR subgenomes revealed a ‘birth and death’ model of evolution for a range of species, however little is known about fine-scale evolutionary dynamics within single-OR families. This study reports the first assessment of fine-scale OR evolution and variation in African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), a family of subterranean rodents endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Because of the selective pressures of life underground, enhanced olfaction is proposed to be fundamental to the evolutionary success of the Bathyergidae, resulting in a highly diversified OR gene-repertoire. Using a PCR-sequencing approach, we analysed variation in the OR7 family across 14 extant bathyergid species, which revealed enhanced levels of functional polymorphisms concentrated across the receptors’ ligand-binding region. We propose that mole-rats are able to recognise a broad range of odorants and that this diversity is reflected throughout their OR7 gene repertoire. Using both classic tests and tree-based methods to test for signals of selection, we investigate evolutionary forces across the mole-rat OR7 gene tree. Four well-supported clades emerged in the OR phylogeny, with varying signals of selection; from neutrality to positive and purifying selection. Bathyergid life-history traits and environmental niche-specialisation are explored as possible drivers of adaptive OR evolution, emerging as non-exclusive contributors to the positive selection observed at OR7 genes. Our results reveal unexpected complexity of evolutionary mechanisms acting within a single OR family, providing insightful perspectives into OR evolutionary dynamics. DA - 2014 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0093336 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - PLoS One LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2014 T1 - Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats TI - Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14837 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14837
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093336
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationStathopoulos S, Bishop JM, O'Ryan C. Genetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-rats. PLoS One. 2014; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14837.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherPublic Library of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the <a href=en_ZA
dc.rights.holder© 2014 Stathopoulos et alen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0en_ZA
dc.sourcePLoS Oneen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosoneen_ZA
dc.subject.otherNatural selectionen_ZA
dc.subject.otherEvolutionary geneticsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherPhylogenetic analysisen_ZA
dc.subject.otherOdorantsen_ZA
dc.subject.otherAnimal phylogeneticsen_ZA
dc.titleGenetic signatures for enhanced olfaction in the African mole-ratsen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Stathopoulos_Genetic_Signatures_2014.pdf
Size:
728.79 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles