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Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Cruz-Gordillo, P; Fedrigo, O; Wray, GA; Babbitt, CC
Published in: Brain, behavior and evolution
January 2010

The various means by which the body perceives, transmits, and resolves the experiences of pain and nociception are mediated by a host of molecules, including neuropeptides within the opioid gene signaling pathway. The peptide ligands and receptors encoded by this group of genes have been linked to behavioral disorders as well as a number of psychiatric affective disorders. Our aim was to explore the recent evolutionary history of these two gene families by taking a comparative genomics approach, specifically through a comparison between humans and chimpanzees. Our analyses indicate differential expression of these genes between the two species, more than expected based on genome-wide comparisons, indicating that differential expression is pervasive among the opioid genes. Of the 8 family members, three genes showed significant expression differences (PENK, PNOC, and OPRL1), with two others marginally significant (OPRM1 and OPRD1). Accelerated substitution rates along human and chimpanzee lineages within the putative regulatory regions of OPRM1, POMC, and PDYN between the human and chimpanzee branches are consistent with positive selection. Collectively, these results suggest that there may have been a selective advantage to modulating the expression of the opioid genes in humans compared with our closest living relatives. Information about the cognitive roles mediated by these genes in humans may help to elucidate the trait consequences of these putatively adaptive expression changes.

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Published In

Brain, behavior and evolution

DOI

EISSN

1421-9743

ISSN

0006-8977

Publication Date

January 2010

Volume

76

Issue

2

Start / End Page

154 / 162

Related Subject Headings

  • Species Specificity
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Cruz-Gordillo, P., Fedrigo, O., Wray, G. A., & Babbitt, C. C. (2010). Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees. Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 76(2), 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1159/000320968
Cruz-Gordillo, Peter, Olivier Fedrigo, Gregory A. Wray, and Courtney C. Babbitt. “Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees.Brain, Behavior and Evolution 76, no. 2 (January 2010): 154–62. https://doi.org/10.1159/000320968.
Cruz-Gordillo P, Fedrigo O, Wray GA, Babbitt CC. Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees. Brain, behavior and evolution. 2010 Jan;76(2):154–62.
Cruz-Gordillo, Peter, et al. “Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees.Brain, Behavior and Evolution, vol. 76, no. 2, Jan. 2010, pp. 154–62. Epmc, doi:10.1159/000320968.
Cruz-Gordillo P, Fedrigo O, Wray GA, Babbitt CC. Extensive changes in the expression of the opioid genes between humans and chimpanzees. Brain, behavior and evolution. 2010 Jan;76(2):154–162.
Journal cover image

Published In

Brain, behavior and evolution

DOI

EISSN

1421-9743

ISSN

0006-8977

Publication Date

January 2010

Volume

76

Issue

2

Start / End Page

154 / 162

Related Subject Headings

  • Species Specificity
  • Pan troglodytes
  • Opioid Peptides
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Humans
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Brain Chemistry
  • Animals