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Diet shapes the evolution of the vertebrate bitter taste receptor gene repertoire

Diyan Li1, Jianzhi Zhang

  • 1College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan, China.

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|November 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Vertebrate bitter taste receptors (Tas2r) vary greatly in number across species. This diversity is linked to diet, suggesting toxins in food drive the evolution of these important taste genes.

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Genomics
  • Sensory biology

Background:

  • Vertebrate bitter taste receptors (Tas2rs) detect poisonous compounds, preventing toxin ingestion.
  • Significant variation exists in Tas2r gene numbers across species, but the reasons are unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary forces shaping the diversity of Tas2r gene repertoires in vertebrates.
  • To determine the correlation between Tas2r gene number and species' diets.

Main Methods:

  • Compiled Tas2r gene repertoires from 41 mammals, 4 birds, 2 reptiles, 1 amphibian, and 6 fish species.
  • Analyzed gene family expansions and contractions across vertebrate taxa.
  • Correlated Tas2r gene number with dietary plant fraction.

Main Results:

  • Tas2r gene counts range from 0 in bottlenose dolphins to 51 in Western clawed frogs.
  • Gene family size shows numerous expansions and contractions, particularly in tetrapods.
  • A positive correlation exists between Tas2r gene number and the proportion of plants in a species' diet.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary toxins, prevalent in plants, are a major selective pressure driving Tas2r repertoire evolution.
  • The diversity of bitter taste receptor genes reflects adaptations to varying dietary toxin exposure.
Keywords:
Tas2rbitter taste receptorcarnivoreherbivoreomnivore

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