The Evolution of Oxytocin and Vasotocin Receptor Genes in Jawed Vertebrates: A Clear Case for Gene Duplications Through Ancestral Whole-Genome Duplications.

ABSTRACT: The neuronal and neuroendocrine peptides oxytocin (OT) and vasotocin (VT), including vasopressins, have six cognate receptors encoded by six receptor subtype genes in jawed vertebrates. The peptides elicit a broad range of responses that are specifically mediated by the receptor subtypes including neuronal functions regulating behavior and hormonal actions on reproduction and water/electrolyte balance. Previously, we have demonstrated that these six receptor subtype genes, which we designated VTR1A, VTR1B, OTR, VTR2A, VTR2B and VTR2C, arose from a syntenic ancestral gene pair, one VTR1/OTR ancestor and one VTR2 ancestor, through the early vertebrate whole-genome duplications (WGD) called 1R and 2R. This was supported by both phylogenetic and

SUBMITTER: Ocampo Daza D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8851675 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature