Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-47
Title: Characterization of the neurohypophysial hormone gene loci in elephant shark and the Japanese lamprey: Origin of the vertebrate neurohypophysial hormone genes
Authors: Gwee, P.-C
Tay, B.-H
Brenner, S 
Venkatesh, B 
Keywords: argiprestocin
neurohypophysis hormone
oxytocin
amino acid sequence
animal
article
Chordata
DNA sequence
gene duplication
gene expression profiling
genetics
lamprey
molecular cloning
molecular evolution
molecular genetics
nucleotide sequence
sequence alignment
shark
synteny
Amino Acid Sequence
Animals
Base Sequence
Chordata
Cloning, Molecular
Conserved Sequence
Evolution, Molecular
Gene Duplication
Gene Expression Profiling
Lampreys
Molecular Sequence Data
Oxytocin
Pituitary Hormones, Posterior
Sequence Alignment
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Sharks
Synteny
Vasotocin
Issue Date: 2009
Citation: Gwee, P.-C, Tay, B.-H, Brenner, S, Venkatesh, B (2009). Characterization of the neurohypophysial hormone gene loci in elephant shark and the Japanese lamprey: Origin of the vertebrate neurohypophysial hormone genes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 9 (1) : 47. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2148-9-47
Rights: Attribution 4.0 International
Abstract: Background. Vasopressin and oxytocin are mammalian neurohypophysial hormones with distinct functions. Vasopressin is involved mainly in osmoregulation and oxytocin is involved primarily in parturition and lactation. Jawed vertebrates contain at least one homolog each of vasopressin and oxytocin, whereas only a vasopressin-family hormone, vasotocin, has been identified in jawless vertebrates. The genes encoding vasopressin and oxytocin are closely linked tail-to-tail in eutherian mammals whereas their homologs in chicken, Xenopus and coelacanth (vasotocin and mesotocin) are linked tail-to-head. In contrast, their pufferfish homologs, vasotocin and isotocin, are located on the same strand of DNA with isotocin located upstream of vasotocin and separated by five genes. These differences in the arrangement of the two genes in different bony vertebrate lineages raise questions about their origin and ancestral arrangement. To trace the origin of these genes, we have sequenced BAC clones from the neurohypophysial gene loci in a cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark (Callorhinchus milii), and in a jawless vertebrate, the Japanese lamprey (Lethenteron japonicum). We have also analyzed the neurohypophysial hormone gene locus in an invertebrate chordate, the amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae). Results. The elephant shark neurohypophysial hormone genes encode vasotocin and oxytocin, and are linked tail-to-head like their homologs in coelacanth and non-eutherian tetrapods. Besides the hypothalamus, the two genes are also expressed in the ovary. In addition, the vasotocin gene is expressed in the kidney, rectal gland and intestine. These expression profiles indicate a paracrine role for the two hormones. The lamprey locus contains a single neurohypophysial hormone gene, the vasotocin. The synteny of genes in the lamprey locus is conserved in elephant shark, coelacanth and tetrapods but disrupted in teleost fishes. The amphioxus locus encodes a single neurohypophysial hormone, designated as [Ile4]vasotocin. Conclusion. The vasopressin- and oxytocin-family of neurohypophysial hormones evolved in a common ancestor of jawed vertebrates through tandem duplication of the ancestral vasotocin gene. The duplicated genes were linked tail-to-head like their homologs in elephant shark, coelacanth and non-eutherian tetrapods. In contrast to the conserved linkage of the neurohypophysial genes in these vertebrates, the neurohypophysial hormone gene locus has experienced extensive rearrangements in the teleost lineage.
Source Title: BMC Evolutionary Biology
URI: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/177956
ISSN: 14712148
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-47
Rights: Attribution 4.0 International
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