Evolution of bitter receptor genes and ontogenetic dietary shift in a frog.

ABSTRACT: Vertebrate Tas2r taste receptors detect bitter compounds that are potentially poisonous. Previous studies found substantial variation in the number of Tas2r genes across vertebrates, with some frog species carrying the largest number. Peculiar among vertebrates, frogs undergo metamorphosis, often associated with a dietary shift between tadpoles and adults. A possible explanation for the large size of frog Tas2r families could be that distinct sets of Tas2r genes are required for tadpoles and adults, suggesting differential expression of Tas2r genes between tadpoles and adults. To test this hypothesis, we first examined 20 amphibian genomes and found that amphibians generally possess more Tas2r genes than do other vertebrate clades. We next focused on the

SUBMITTER: Hao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9974469 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature