Evolution of digestive enzymes and dietary diversification in birds.

ABSTRACT: As the most species-rich class of tetrapod vertebrates, Aves possesses diverse feeding habits, with multiple origins of insectivory, carnivory, frugivory, nectarivory, granivory and omnivory. Since digestive enzymes mediate and limit energy and nutrient uptake, we hypothesized that genes encoding digestive enzymes have undergone adaptive evolution in birds. To test this general hypothesis, we identified 16 digestive enzyme genes (including seven carbohydrase genes (hepatic amy, pancreatic amy, salivary amy, agl, g6pc, gaa and gck), three lipase genes (cyp7a1, lipf and pnlip), two protease genes (ctrc and pgc), two lysozyme genes (lyz and lyg) and two chitinase genes (chia and chit1)) fr

SUBMITTER: Chen YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6487185 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature