Functional evolution of the trace amine associated receptors in mammals and the loss of TAAR1 in dogs.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The trace amine associated receptor family is a diverse array of GPCRs that arose before the first vertebrates walked on land. Trace amine associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) is a wide spectrum aminergic receptor that acts as a modulator in brain monoaminergic systems. Other trace amine associated receptors appear to relate to environmental perception and show a birth-and-death pattern in mammals similar to olfactory receptors.

Results

Across mammals, avians, and amphibians, the TAAR1 gene is intact and appears to be under strong purifying selection based on rates of amino acid fixation compared to neutral mutations. We have found that in dogs it has become a pseudogene. Our analyses using a comparative genetics approach revealed that the pseudogenization event predated

SUBMITTER: Vallender EJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2838891 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature