Comparison of the fraction of olfactory receptor pseudogenes in wolf (Canis lupus) with domestic dog (Canis familiaris)  

作　　者：ZHANG Hong-hai WEI Qin-guo ZHANG Huan-xin CHEN Lei 

机构地区：[1]College of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, Shandong Province, China.

出　　处：《Journal of Forestry Research》2011年第2期275-280,共6页林业研究（英文版）

基　　金：supported by Program for New Century Excellent Talents (NCET-07-0507);National Natural Science Foundation of China (30370218);Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (Z2008D01);Project of Science and Technology Development Plan of Shandong Province (2007GG2009011)

摘　　要：Olfactory receptors（ORs）,the first dedicated molecules with which odorants physically interact to arouse an olfactory sensation,constitute the largest gene family in vertebrates.Dogs and wolves,like many other mammals,have a highly developed capability to detect and identify odorant molecules,even at minimum concentrations.In this study,the olfactory receptor repertoire from domestic dog and its closest relative,the wolf,were sequenced to estimate the fraction of pseudogenes in each subspecies.The fraction of disrupted olfactory receptor genes in dog was 17.78%,whereas,that in wolf was 12.08%.As expected the dog was less dependent on olfaction than the wolf,and the dog had more olfactory receptor pseudogenes.However,the observed difference between the two subspecies was not at the significant level（χ2 = 1.388,p = 0.239 0.05）.The values indicated that although domestication might play a role in the reduction of OR genes,it could not be concluded that the living environment provided by domestication lead to a significant reduction of the functional olfactory receptor repertoire.Furthermore,the purpose of domestication may also have influence on the ratio of functional olfactory receptor genes reduction.Olfactory receptors（ORs）,the first dedicated molecules with which odorants physically interact to arouse an olfactory sensation,constitute the largest gene family in vertebrates.Dogs and wolves,like many other mammals,have a highly developed capability to detect and identify odorant molecules,even at minimum concentrations.In this study,the olfactory receptor repertoire from domestic dog and its closest relative,the wolf,were sequenced to estimate the fraction of pseudogenes in each subspecies.The fraction of disrupted olfactory receptor genes in dog was 17.78%,whereas,that in wolf was 12.08%.As expected the dog was less dependent on olfaction than the wolf,and the dog had more olfactory receptor pseudogenes.However,the observed difference between the two subspecies was not at the significant level（χ2 = 1.388,p = 0.239 0.05）.The values indicated that although domestication might play a role in the reduction of OR genes,it could not be concluded that the living environment provided by domestication lead to a significant reduction of the functional olfactory receptor repertoire.Furthermore,the purpose of domestication may also have influence on the ratio of functional olfactory receptor genes reduction.

关 键 词：olfactory receptor WOLF domestic dog PSEUDOGENE 

分 类 号：S828[农业科学—畜牧学] Q434[农业科学—畜牧兽医]