Peng Zhong-Liang, Wu Wei, Tang Chen-Yang, Ren Jin-Long, Jiang Dechun, Li Jia-Tang
CAS 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.
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Front Genet. 2022 Jan 25;13:825974. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2022.825974. eCollection 2022.
Animal olfactory systems evolved with changes in habitat to detect odor cues from the environment. The aquatic environment, as a unique habitat, poses a formidable challenge for olfactory perception in animals, since the higher density and viscosity of water. The olfactory system in snakes is highly specialized, thus providing the opportunity to explore the adaptive evolution of such systems to unique habitats. To date, however, few studies have explored the changes in gene expression features in the olfactory systems of aquatic snakes. In this study, we carried out RNA sequencing of 26 olfactory tissue samples (vomeronasal organ and olfactory bulb) from two aquatic and two non-aquatic snake species to explore gene expression changes under the aquatic environment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed significant differences in gene expression profiles between aquatic and non-aquatic habitats. The main olfactory systems of the aquatic and non-aquatic snakes were regulated by different genes. Among these genes, may contribute to exploring gene expression changes under the aquatic environment by regulating the formation of inhibitory neurons in the granular cell layer and increasing the separation of neuronal patterns to correctly identify complex chemical information. The high expression of and family genes in the accessory olfactory systems of aquatic snakes should enhance their ability to bind water-soluble odor molecules, and thus obtain more information in hydrophytic habitats. This work provides an important foundation for exploring the olfactory adaptation of snakes in special habitats.
动物嗅觉系统随着栖息地的变化而进化，以检测来自环境的气味线索。水生环境作为一种独特的栖息地，由于水的密度和粘度较高，对动物的嗅觉感知构成了巨大挑战。蛇的嗅觉系统高度特化，因此为探索此类系统对独特栖息地的适应性进化提供了机会。然而，迄今为止，很少有研究探讨水栖蛇嗅觉系统中基因表达特征的变化。在本研究中，我们对来自两种水栖蛇和两种非水栖蛇的26个嗅觉组织样本（犁鼻器和嗅球）进行了RNA测序，以探索水生环境下的基因表达变化。加权基因共表达网络分析表明，水生和非水生生境之间的基因表达谱存在显著差异。水栖蛇和非水栖蛇的主要嗅觉系统受不同基因调控。在这些基因中， 可能通过调节颗粒细胞层中抑制性神经元的形成以及增加神经元模式的分离来正确识别复杂的化学信息，从而有助于探索水生环境下的基因表达变化。水栖蛇副嗅觉系统中 和 家族基因的高表达应会增强它们结合水溶性气味分子的能力，从而在水生栖息地获得更多信息。这项工作为探索蛇在特殊栖息地的嗅觉适应性提供了重要基础。
