Characterization of V1R receptor (ora) genes in Lake Victoria cichlids.
Gene
; 499(2): 273-9, 2012 May 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22450365
ABSTRACT
Although olfaction could play a crucial role in underwater habitats by allowing fish to sense a variety of nonvolatile chemical signals, the importance of olfaction in species-rich cichlids is still controversial. In particular, examining whether cichlids rely on olfaction for reproduction is of primary interest to understand the mechanisms of speciation. In the present study, we explored the V1R (also known as ora) genes, which are believed to encode reproductive pheromone receptors in fish, in the genomes of Lake Victoria cichlids. By screening a bacterial artificial chromosome library, we identified all six intact V1R genes (V1R1 to V1R6) that have been reported in other teleost fish. Furthermore, RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses showed that all of the V1R genes were expressed in the olfactory epithelium, indicating that these receptors are functional in cichlids. These observations indicate that cichlids use V1R-mediated olfaction in some ways for their social behaviors.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
/
Olfato
/
Fatores Quimiotáticos
/
Ciclídeos
/
Proteínas de Peixes
Tipo de estudo:
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2012
Tipo de documento:
Article