Origin and Evolution of the Gene Family of Proteinaceous Pheromones, the Exocrine Gland-Secreting Peptides, in Rodents.

ABSTRACT: The exocrine-gland secreting peptide (ESP)gene family encodes proteinaceous pheromones that are recognized by the vomeronasal organ in mice. For example, ESP1 is a male pheromone secreted in tear fluid that regulates socio-sexual behavior, and ESP22 is a juvenile pheromone that suppresses adult sexual behavior. The family consists of multiple genes and has been identified only in mouse and rat genomes. The coding region of a mouse ESP gene is separated into two exons, each encoding signal and mature sequences. Here, we report the origin and evolution of the ESP gene family. ESP genes were found only in the Muridea and Cricetidae families of rodents, suggesting a recent origin of ESP genes in the common ancestor of murids and cricetids. ESP genes show a great diversity in number, length, an

SUBMITTER: Niimura Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7826187 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature