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Related Experiment Video

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Volatile Sex Pheromone Extraction and Chemoattraction Assay in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Rapid evolution of plethodontid modulating factor, a hypervariable salamander courtship pheromone, is driven by

Catherine A Palmer¹, Richard A Watts, Amy P Hastings

¹Department of Biology, Portland State University, Portland, OR 97201, USA. cpalmerpdx@gmail.com

Journal of Molecular Evolution

|April 22, 2010

Summary

The evolution of the plethodontid modulating factor (PMF) pheromone in salamanders is rapid and driven by positive selection, similar to other pheromone genes. However, purifying selection maintains key PMF protein features, contrasting with stasis in its delivery system.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary biology
Molecular evolution
Animal communication

Background:

Sexual communication in plethodontid salamanders relies on proteinaceous pheromones delivered by males to enhance female receptivity.
Two previously studied pheromone proteins (PRF and SPF) exhibit rapid evolution driven by positive selection, suggesting coevolution with female receptors.
The third protein family, plethodontid modulating factor (PMF), was investigated to determine if it shares this evolutionary pattern.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the evolutionary patterns of the PMF pheromone protein gene family in plethodontid salamanders.
To compare the rate of evolution, diversification, and selection pressures on PMF with those of PRF and SPF.
To identify specific structural and biochemical features of PMF that are conserved by selection.

Main Methods:

Utilized RT-PCR on mental gland cDNA from 27 salamander species across three genera.
Analyzed PMF sequences to measure evolutionary rates, gene diversification, and modes of selection.
Examined amino acid substitutions to understand evolutionary pressures.

Main Results:

PMF is encoded by a multigene family with high polymorphism and gene duplication, similar to PRF and SPF.
PMF exhibits rapid and incessant evolution driven by strong positive selection, exceeding that of PRF and SPF.
Purifying selection acts on PMF to conserve critical elements like secretion signals, cysteine residues, and isoelectric point (pI).

Conclusions:

The PMF gene family shows extreme molecular diversification and rapid evolution under positive selection.
Despite molecular divergence, the pheromone delivery system's morphology and behavior remain evolutionarily static.
This suggests a complex interplay between molecular adaptation and conserved functional systems in salamander sexual communication.