Natural selection and adaptive evolution of leptin in the ochotona family driven by the cold environmental stress.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Environmental stress can accelerate the evolutionary rate of specific stress-response proteins and create new functions specialized for different environments, enhancing an organism's fitness to stressful environments. Pikas (order Lagomorpha), endemic, non-hibernating mammals in the modern Holarctic Region, live in cold regions at either high altitudes or high latitudes and have a maximum distribution of species diversification confined to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Variations in energy metabolism are remarkable for them living in cold environments. Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, plays important roles in energy homeostasis.

Methodology/principal findings

To examine the extent of leptin variations within the Ochotona family, we cloned the entire coding sequ

SUBMITTER: Yang J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2194619 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature