Natural selection has a critical role in the diversity of morphological traits.However,the genetic basis underlying the evolution and diversity of morphological characteristics,particularly in the context an organism&...Natural selection has a critical role in the diversity of morphological traits.However,the genetic basis underlying the evolution and diversity of morphological characteristics,particularly in the context an organism's behavior,lifestyle,and environment,is not well understood.The discovery of nasal chemoreceptors in mammals provided an opportunity to address this question.Here,we identify 4 nasal chemoreceptor gene families(V1R,V2R,OR,and TAAR)from horse,guinea pig,marmoset and orangutan genome sequences,respectively.Together with previously described mammalian nasal chemoreceptor gene repertoires,we found a significant positive correlation between functional gene number and morphological complexity,both in the main olfactory system and the vomeronasal system.The combined analysis of morphological data,behavioral data,and gene repertoires suggests that nocturnal mammals tend to possess more species-specific chemoreceptor genes and more complicated olfactory organs than diurnal mammals.Moreover,analysis of evolutionary forces revealed the existence of positive selection on the species-specific genes,likely reflecting the species-specific detection of odors and pheromones.Taken together,these results reflect a rare case of adaptation to circadian rhythm activity at the genome scale,and strongly suggest that the complexity of morphological olfactory organs and the diversification of nasal chemoreceptors in nocturnal mammals are under selection for the ability to perceive the variety of odors that nocturnal mammals may encounter in their particular dark environments.展开更多
Sugars are one of the major metabolites and are essential for nucleic acid synthesis and energy production.In addition,sugars can act as signaling molecules.To study sugar signaling at the systemic level,there is an u...Sugars are one of the major metabolites and are essential for nucleic acid synthesis and energy production.In addition,sugars can act as signaling molecules.To study sugar signaling at the systemic level,there is an urgent need to systematically identify sugar-sensing proteins and nucleic acids.I propose the terms“swodkoreceptor”and“swodkocrine signaling,”derived from the Polish word“slodki”meaning“sweet,”to comprise all sugar-sensing proteins and signaling events,respectively,regardless of their cellular location and signaling domains.This proposal is intended to facilitate the inclusion of proteins such as the Escherichia coli Lac I repressor as an allolactose receptor,human glucokinase regulatory protein(GCKR)as a fructose receptor,and other sugar-binding based allosterically regulated enzymes and transcription factors as sugar-sensing receptors.In addition,enzyme-interacting proteins whose interaction state is regulated by sugar binding have also been proposed as sugar receptors.The systemic study of protein-and nucleic-acid-based swodkoreceptors may help to identify organelle-specific swodkoreceptors and to also address receptor duality.The study of intra-and inter-organism swodkocrine signaling and its crosstalk with gasocrine signaling may help to understand the etiology of diseases due to dysregulation in sugar homeostasis and signaling.展开更多
The locus coeruleus(LC) has been implicated in the control of breathing.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome results from mutation of the paired-like homeobox 2 b(Phox2 b) gene that is expressed in LC neurons.T...The locus coeruleus(LC) has been implicated in the control of breathing.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome results from mutation of the paired-like homeobox 2 b(Phox2 b) gene that is expressed in LC neurons.The present study was designed to address whether stimulation of Phox2 b-expressing LC(Phox2 b~(LC)) neurons affects breathing and to reveal the putative circuit mechanism.A Cre-dependent viral vector encoding a Gqcoupled human M3 muscarinic receptor(hM3 Dq) was delivered into the LC of Phox2 b-Cre mice.The hM3 Dqtransduced neurons were pharmacologically activated while respiratory function was measured by plethysmography.We demonstrated that selective stimulation of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons significantly increased basal ventilation in conscious mice.Genetic ablation of these neurons markedly impaired hypercapnic ventilatory responses.Moreover,stimulation of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons enhanced the activity of preBotzinger complex neurons.Finally,axons of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons projected to the preBotzinger complex.Collectively,Phox2 b~(LC) neurons contribute to the control of breathing most likely via an LC-preBotzinger complex circuit.展开更多
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2007CB411600)the Chinese Academy of Sciences(KSCX2-YW-N-018)Bureau of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province to Y-P.Zhang and by a start-up fund of the "Hundreds-Talent Program" from Chinese Academy of Sciences and Key Project from National Natural Science Foundation of China(30930015)to P.Shi.
文摘Natural selection has a critical role in the diversity of morphological traits.However,the genetic basis underlying the evolution and diversity of morphological characteristics,particularly in the context an organism's behavior,lifestyle,and environment,is not well understood.The discovery of nasal chemoreceptors in mammals provided an opportunity to address this question.Here,we identify 4 nasal chemoreceptor gene families(V1R,V2R,OR,and TAAR)from horse,guinea pig,marmoset and orangutan genome sequences,respectively.Together with previously described mammalian nasal chemoreceptor gene repertoires,we found a significant positive correlation between functional gene number and morphological complexity,both in the main olfactory system and the vomeronasal system.The combined analysis of morphological data,behavioral data,and gene repertoires suggests that nocturnal mammals tend to possess more species-specific chemoreceptor genes and more complicated olfactory organs than diurnal mammals.Moreover,analysis of evolutionary forces revealed the existence of positive selection on the species-specific genes,likely reflecting the species-specific detection of odors and pheromones.Taken together,these results reflect a rare case of adaptation to circadian rhythm activity at the genome scale,and strongly suggest that the complexity of morphological olfactory organs and the diversification of nasal chemoreceptors in nocturnal mammals are under selection for the ability to perceive the variety of odors that nocturnal mammals may encounter in their particular dark environments.
基金supported by the National Science Centre grants,Grant/Award Number:SONATA-BIS 2020/38/E/NZ3/00090 and SONATA 2021/43/D/NZ3/01798。
文摘Sugars are one of the major metabolites and are essential for nucleic acid synthesis and energy production.In addition,sugars can act as signaling molecules.To study sugar signaling at the systemic level,there is an urgent need to systematically identify sugar-sensing proteins and nucleic acids.I propose the terms“swodkoreceptor”and“swodkocrine signaling,”derived from the Polish word“slodki”meaning“sweet,”to comprise all sugar-sensing proteins and signaling events,respectively,regardless of their cellular location and signaling domains.This proposal is intended to facilitate the inclusion of proteins such as the Escherichia coli Lac I repressor as an allolactose receptor,human glucokinase regulatory protein(GCKR)as a fructose receptor,and other sugar-binding based allosterically regulated enzymes and transcription factors as sugar-sensing receptors.In addition,enzyme-interacting proteins whose interaction state is regulated by sugar binding have also been proposed as sugar receptors.The systemic study of protein-and nucleic-acid-based swodkoreceptors may help to identify organelle-specific swodkoreceptors and to also address receptor duality.The study of intra-and inter-organism swodkocrine signaling and its crosstalk with gasocrine signaling may help to understand the etiology of diseases due to dysregulation in sugar homeostasis and signaling.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971058 and 31571174)the Youth Fund for Scientific and Technological Research in Higher Education Institutions of Hebei Province(QN2019019)the Youth Science and Technology Talent Support Program of Natural Science in Hebei Medical University(CYQD201907)。
文摘The locus coeruleus(LC) has been implicated in the control of breathing.Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome results from mutation of the paired-like homeobox 2 b(Phox2 b) gene that is expressed in LC neurons.The present study was designed to address whether stimulation of Phox2 b-expressing LC(Phox2 b~(LC)) neurons affects breathing and to reveal the putative circuit mechanism.A Cre-dependent viral vector encoding a Gqcoupled human M3 muscarinic receptor(hM3 Dq) was delivered into the LC of Phox2 b-Cre mice.The hM3 Dqtransduced neurons were pharmacologically activated while respiratory function was measured by plethysmography.We demonstrated that selective stimulation of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons significantly increased basal ventilation in conscious mice.Genetic ablation of these neurons markedly impaired hypercapnic ventilatory responses.Moreover,stimulation of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons enhanced the activity of preBotzinger complex neurons.Finally,axons of Phox2 b~(LC) neurons projected to the preBotzinger complex.Collectively,Phox2 b~(LC) neurons contribute to the control of breathing most likely via an LC-preBotzinger complex circuit.
