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Dietschi Q, Tuberosa J, Fodoulian L, Boillat M, Kan C, Codourey J, Pauli V, Feinstein P, Carleton A, Rodriguez I. Clustering of vomeronasal receptor genes is required for transcriptional stability but not for choice. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn7450. [PMID: 36383665 PMCID: PMC9668312 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn7450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Rodents perceive pheromones via vomeronasal receptors encoded by highly evolutionarily dynamic Vr and Fpr gene superfamilies. We report here that high numbers of V1r pseudogenes are scattered in mammalian genomes, contrasting with the clustered organization of functional V1r and Fpr genes. We also found that V1r pseudogenes are more likely to be expressed when located in a functional V1r gene cluster than when isolated. To explore the potential regulatory role played by the association of functional vomeronasal receptor genes with their clusters, we dissociated the mouse Fpr-rs3 from its native cluster via transgenesis. Singular and specific transgenic Fpr-rs3 transcription was observed in young vomeronasal neurons but was only transient. Our study of natural and artificial dispersed gene duplications uncovers the existence of transcription-stabilizing elements not coupled to vomeronasal gene units but rather associated with vomeronasal gene clusters and thus explains the evolutionary conserved clustered organization of functional vomeronasal genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Dietschi
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joël Tuberosa
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leon Fodoulian
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Madlaina Boillat
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Chenda Kan
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Julien Codourey
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Véronique Pauli
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Paul Feinstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, Hunter College, City University of New York and The Graduate Center Programs in Biochemistry, Biology and CUNY Neuroscience Collaborative, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alan Carleton
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Rodriguez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, Faculty of Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Renninger SL. Cell types exposed by social scent. Science 2019; 366:1311-1312. [PMID: 31831656 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz8969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sabine L Renninger
- Champalimaud Research, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
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Mohrhardt J, Nagel M, Fleck D, Ben-Shaul Y, Spehr M. Signal Detection and Coding in the Accessory Olfactory System. Chem Senses 2019; 43:667-695. [PMID: 30256909 PMCID: PMC6211456 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In many mammalian species, the accessory olfactory system plays a central role in guiding behavioral and physiological responses to social and reproductive interactions. Because of its relatively compact structure and its direct access to amygdalar and hypothalamic nuclei, the accessory olfactory pathway provides an ideal system to study sensory control of complex mammalian behavior. During the last several years, many studies employing molecular, behavioral, and physiological approaches have significantly expanded and enhanced our understanding of this system. The purpose of the current review is to integrate older and newer studies to present an updated and comprehensive picture of vomeronasal signaling and coding with an emphasis on early accessory olfactory system processing stages. These include vomeronasal sensory neurons in the vomeronasal organ, and the circuitry of the accessory olfactory bulb. Because the overwhelming majority of studies on accessory olfactory system function employ rodents, this review is largely focused on this phylogenetic order, and on mice in particular. Taken together, the emerging view from both older literature and more recent studies is that the molecular, cellular, and circuit properties of chemosensory signaling along the accessory olfactory pathway are in many ways unique. Yet, it has also become evident that, like the main olfactory system, the accessory olfactory system also has the capacity for adaptive learning, experience, and state-dependent plasticity. In addition to describing what is currently known about accessory olfactory system function and physiology, we highlight what we believe are important gaps in our knowledge, which thus define exciting directions for future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Mohrhardt
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maximilian Nagel
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - David Fleck
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Yoram Ben-Shaul
- Department of Medical Neurobiology, School of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, Institute for Biology II, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Ackels T, von der Weid B, Rodriguez I, Spehr M. Physiological characterization of formyl peptide receptor expressing cells in the mouse vomeronasal organ. Front Neuroanat 2014; 8:134. [PMID: 25484858 PMCID: PMC4240171 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2014.00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse vomeronasal organ (VNO) is a chemosensory structure that detects both hetero- and conspecific social cues. Based on largely monogenic expression of either type 1 or 2 vomeronasal receptors (V1Rs/V2Rs) or members of the formyl peptide receptor (FPR) family, the vomeronasal sensory epithelium harbors at least three neuronal subpopulations. While various neurophysiological properties of both V1R- and V2R-expressing neurons have been described using genetically engineered mouse models, the basic biophysical characteristics of the more recently identified FPR-expressing vomeronasal neurons have not been studied. Here, we employ a transgenic mouse strain that coexpresses an enhanced variant of yellow fluorescent protein together with FPR-rs3 allowing to identify and analyze FPR-rs3-expressing neurons in acute VNO tissue slices. Single neuron electrophysiological recordings allow comparative characterization of the biophysical properties inherent to a prototypical member of the FPR-expressing subpopulation of VNO neurons. In this study, we provide an in-depth analysis of both passive and active membrane properties, including detailed characterization of several types of voltage-activated conductances and action potential discharge patterns, in fluorescently labeled vs. unmarked vomeronasal neurons. Our results reveal striking similarities in the basic (electro) physiological architecture of both transgene-expressing and non-expressing neurons, confirming the suitability of this genetically engineered mouse model for future studies addressing more specialized issues in vomeronasal FPR neurobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Ackels
- Department of Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University Aachen, Germany
| | - Benoît von der Weid
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ivan Rodriguez
- Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marc Spehr
- Department of Chemosensation, RWTH Aachen University Aachen, Germany
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Michaloski JS, Galante PAF, Nagai MH, Armelin-Correa L, Chien MS, Matsunami H, Malnic B. Common promoter elements in odorant and vomeronasal receptor genes. PLoS One 2011; 6:e29065. [PMID: 22216168 PMCID: PMC3247230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/20/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammals, odorants and pheromones are detected by hundreds of odorant receptors (ORs) and vomeronasal receptors (V1Rs and V2Rs) expressed by sensory neurons that are respectively located in the main olfactory epithelium and in the vomeronasal organ. Even though these two olfactory systems are functionally and anatomically separate, their sensory neurons show a common mechanism of receptor gene regulation: each neuron expresses a single receptor gene from a single allele. The mechanisms underlying OR and VR gene expression remain unclear. Here we investigated if OR and V1R genes share common sequences in their promoter regions. We conducted a comparative analysis of promoter regions of 39 mouse V1R genes and found motifs that are common to a large number of promoters. We then searched mouse OR promoter regions for motifs that resemble the ones found in the V1R promoters. We identified motifs that are present in both the V1R and OR promoter regions. Some of these motifs correspond to the known O/E like binding sites while others resemble binding sites for transcriptional repressors. We show that one of these motifs specifically interacts with proteins extracted from both nuclei from olfactory and vomeronasal neurons. Our study is the first to identify motifs that resemble binding sites for repressors in the promoters of OR and V1R genes. Analysis of these motifs and of the proteins that bind to these motifs should reveal important aspects of the mechanisms of OR/V1R gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jussara S. Michaloski
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro A. F. Galante
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maíra H. Nagai
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucia Armelin-Correa
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ming-Shan Chien
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Hiroaki Matsunami
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Bettina Malnic
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Silvotti L, Cavalca E, Gatti R, Percudani R, Tirindelli R. A recent class of chemosensory neurons developed in mouse and rat. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24462. [PMID: 21931725 PMCID: PMC3170373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2011] [Accepted: 08/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In most animal species, the vomeronasal organ ensures the individual recognition of conspecifics, a prerequisite for a successful reproduction. The vomeronasal organ expresses several receptors for pheromone detection. Mouse vomeronasal type-2 receptors (V2Rs) are restricted to the basal neurons of this organ and organized in four families. Family-A, B and D (family ABD) V2Rs are expressed monogenically (one receptor per neuron) and coexpress with either Vmn2r1 or Vmn2r2, two members of family-C V2Rs. Thus, basal neurons are characterized by specific combinations of two V2Rs. To investigate this issue, we raised antibodies against all family-C V2Rs and analyzed their expression pattern. We found that six out of seven family-C V2Rs (Vmn2r2-7) largely coexpressed and that none of the anti-Vmn2r2-7 antibodies significantly stained Vmn2r1 positive neurons. Thus, basal neurons are divided into two complementary subsets. The first subset (Vmn2r1-positive) preferentially coexpresses a distinct group of family-ABD V2Rs, whereas the second subset (Vmn2r2-7-positive) coexpresses the remaining group of V2Rs. Phylogenetic reconstruction and the analysis of genetic loci in various species reveal that receptors expressed by this second neuronal subset are recent branches of the V2R tree exclusively present in mouse and rat. Conversely, V2Rs expressed in Vmn2r1 positive neurons, are phylogenetically ancient and found in most vertebrates including rodents. Noticeably, the more recent neuronal subset expresses a type of Major Histocompatibility Complex genes only found in murine species. These results indicate that the expansion of the V2R repertoire in a murine ancestor occurred with the establishment of a new population of vomeronasal neurons in which coexists the polygenic expression of a recent group of family-C V2Rs (Vmn2r2-7) and the monogenic expression of a recent group of family-ABD V2Rs. This evolutionary innovation could provide a molecular rationale for the exquisite ability in individual recognition and mate choice of murine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Silvotti
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, BCSMC), University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Eleonora Cavalca
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, BCSMC), University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Rita Gatti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Roberto Tirindelli
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- Italian Institute of Technology (IIT, BCSMC), University of Parma, Parma, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Bader A, Bautze V, Haid D, Breer H, Strotmann J. Gene switching and odor induced activity shape expression of the OR37 family of olfactory receptor genes. Eur J Neurosci 2010; 32:1813-24. [PMID: 21059112 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2010.07458.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) which express distinct odorant receptor (OR) genes are spatially arranged within the mouse olfactory epithelium. Towards an understanding of the mechanisms which determine these patterns, representative OR genes which are typically expressed in the unique central patch of the epithelium were investigated. Inside the patch, numerous OSNs which initially selected a representative gene from this OR group finally expressed another gene from the group, indicating that OSNs inside the patch 'switch' between these genes. If an OSN successively chose genes from the same OR gene cluster, these originated from the same parental chromosome. A deletion of the olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel altered the distribution pattern of distinct OSN populations; they were no longer located exclusively inside the patch. Together, the results indicate that OSNs inside the patch initially sample several OR genes for expression; for their correct patterning in the OE, odor-induced activity appears to play a critical role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bader
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Stuttgart, Germany
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Rodriguez-Gil D, Greer CA. Non-exclusive exclusion (Commentary on Capello et al.). Eur J Neurosci 2008; 29:670. [PMID: 19200069 PMCID: PMC2695854 DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2009.06658.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego Rodriguez-Gil
- Department of Neurosurgery and Neurobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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