Research article summary (published 20 Aug 2007):

The olfactory receptor gene repertoires in secondary-adapted marine vertebrates: evidence for reduction of the functional proportions in cetaceans.

Full Abstract

An olfactory receptor (OR) multigene family is responsible for the well-developed sense of smell possessed by terrestrial tetrapods. Mammalian OR genes had diverged greatly in the terrestrial environment after the fish-tetrapod split, indicating their importance to land habitation. In this study, we analysed OR genes of marine tetrapods (minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata, dwarf sperm whale Kogia sima, Dall's porpoise Phocoenoides dalli, Steller's sea lion Eumetopias jubatus and loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta) and revealed that the pseudogene proportions of OR gene repertoires in whales were significantly higher than those in their terrestrial relative cattle and also in sea lion and sea turtle. On the other hand, the pseudogene proportion of OR sequences in sea lion was not significantly higher compared with that in their terrestrial relative (dog). It indicates that secondary perfectly adapted marine vertebrates (cetaceans) have lost large amount of their OR genes, whereas secondary-semi-adapted marine vertebrates (sea lions and sea turtles) still have maintained their OR genes, reflecting the importance of terrestrial environment for these animals.

Author information

Author/s: Kishida, Takushi (T); Kubota, Shin (S); Shirayama, Yoshihisa (Y); Fukami, Hironobu (H);

Affiliation: Department of Zoology, Kyoto University, Wakayama 649-2211, Japan. takushi(-atsign-)kishida.mbox.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Biology letters (Biol Lett), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Aug; vol 3 (issue 4) : pp 428-30

Dates: Created 2007/07/06; Completed 2007/10/16; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 17535789, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Base Sequence Cattle - genetics Dogs - genetics Evolution, Molecular Female Male Molecular Sequence Data Mutation

Mutation Phylogeny Porpoises - genetics Pseudogenes Receptors, Odorant - genetics Sea Lions - genetics Sequence Analysis, DNA Turtles - genetics Whales - genetics

Associated Chemicals: Receptors, Odorant (0)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Evolution of CHR-2 SINEs in cetartiodactyl genomes: possible evidence for the monophyletic origin of toothed whales. 29 Nov 2001
• DNA surveillance: web-based molecular identification of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. 27 Feb 2003
• Cetacean mitochondrial DNA control region: sequences of all extant baleen whales and two sperm whale species. 30 Aug 1993
• Nucleotide sequence of the D-loop region of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) mitochondrial genome. 27 Feb 1993
• Environmental genotoxicity: probing the underlying mechanisms. 29 Nov 1994
• Functional analysis of a subset of canine olfactory receptor genes. 26 Jul 2007
• Phylogenetic position of cetaceans relative to artiodactyls: reanalysis of mitochondrial and nuclear sequences. 29 Apr 1996
• Mitochondrial phylogenetics and evolution of mysticete whales. 30 Jan 2005
• Organization and expression of canine olfactory receptor genes. 29 Sep 1996
• The canine olfactory subgenome. 28 Feb 2004

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.