Genetic and functional analysis of a Pacific hagfish opioid system.

ABSTRACT: The actions of endogenous opioids and nociceptin/orphanin FQ are mediated by four homologous G protein-coupled receptors that constitute the opioid receptor family. However, little is known about opioid systems in cyclostomes (living jawless fish) and how opioid systems might have evolved from invertebrates. Here, we leveraged de novo transcriptome and low-coverage whole-genome assembly in the Pacific hagfish (Eptatretus stoutii) to identify and characterize the first full-length coding sequence for a functional opioid receptor in a cyclostome. Additionally, we define two novel endogenous opioid precursors in this species that predict several novel opioid peptides. Bioinformatic analysis shows no closely related opioid receptor genes in invertebrates with regard either to the genomic organ

SUBMITTER: Huang AY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11627053 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature