Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 3, 2025
06:32
Author Spotlight: Visualizing Olfactory Receptor Expression in Mosquitoes
Published on: November 17, 2023
1.5K
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Olfactory System Expression Characteristics of Aquatic Snakes
Zhong-Liang Peng1,2, Wei Wu1,2, Chen-Yang Tang1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization and Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China.
Frontiers in Genetics
|February 14, 2022
Summary
Aquatic snakes show distinct gene expression in their olfactory systems, with specific genes like RELN, TRPC2, and V2R aiding in detecting underwater odor cues. This research highlights olfactory adaptation to aquatic environments.
Area of Science:
- * Olfactory system evolution and adaptation.
- * Comparative genomics and transcriptomics in vertebrates.
Background:
- * The aquatic environment presents unique challenges for animal olfactory perception due to water's density and viscosity.
- * Snake olfactory systems are highly specialized, making them ideal models for studying habitat-driven adaptations.
- * Limited research exists on gene expression changes in the olfactory systems of aquatic snakes.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate gene expression differences in the olfactory systems of aquatic versus non-aquatic snake species.
- * To identify specific genes and pathways involved in olfactory adaptation to aquatic habitats.
- * To understand how environmental pressures shape sensory system evolution.
Main Methods:
- * RNA sequencing was performed on olfactory tissues (vomeronasal organ and olfactory bulb) from four snake species (two aquatic, two non-aquatic).
- * Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify significant gene expression differences.
- * Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles between habitat groups.
Main Results:
- * Significant differences in gene expression profiles were observed between aquatic and non-aquatic snakes.
- * The main olfactory systems of aquatic and non-aquatic snakes are regulated by distinct sets of genes.
- * The gene *RELN* may play a role in neuronal pattern separation for complex odor identification in aquatic environments.
- * High expression of *TRPC2* and *V2R* family genes in aquatic snakes' accessory olfactory systems suggests enhanced detection of water-soluble odorants.
Conclusions:
- * Aquatic adaptation significantly alters gene expression in snake olfactory systems.
- * Specific genes (*RELN*, *TRPC2*, *V2R*) are implicated in the enhanced olfactory capabilities of aquatic snakes.
- * This study provides a foundation for understanding olfactory adaptations in snakes inhabiting specialized environments.
