Basal neurons of the vomeronasal organ of the mouse express a superfamily of about 120 pheromone receptors, named V2Rs, that are grouped in four families, A, B, C, and D, according to sequence homology. Family-A, -B, and -D V2Rs are expressed as one receptor gene per cell, but we previously reported their co-expression with family-C V2Rs. Here, we show that basal neurons can be further grouped according to the combinatorial expression of different V2Rs. Altogether, these findings suggest that in each basal neuron a transcriptional program is active for expressing a combination of two compatible receptors and for excluding, at the same time, the expression of all other V2Rs. Further analyses revealed non-random combinations of co-expression between family-C V2Rs and genes of the class Ib major histocompatibility complex. Thus, each basal neuron of the vomeronasal organ represents a highly qualified sensory unit for detecting very specific combinations of pheromonal cues.

Combinatorial co-expression of pheromone receptors, V2Rs / Silvotti, Lucia; Moiani, A; Gatti, Rita; Tirindelli, Roberto. - In: JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY. - ISSN 0022-3042. - 103:(2007), pp. 1753-1763. [10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04877.x]

Combinatorial co-expression of pheromone receptors, V2Rs

SILVOTTI, Lucia;GATTI, Rita;TIRINDELLI, Roberto
2007-01-01

Abstract

Basal neurons of the vomeronasal organ of the mouse express a superfamily of about 120 pheromone receptors, named V2Rs, that are grouped in four families, A, B, C, and D, according to sequence homology. Family-A, -B, and -D V2Rs are expressed as one receptor gene per cell, but we previously reported their co-expression with family-C V2Rs. Here, we show that basal neurons can be further grouped according to the combinatorial expression of different V2Rs. Altogether, these findings suggest that in each basal neuron a transcriptional program is active for expressing a combination of two compatible receptors and for excluding, at the same time, the expression of all other V2Rs. Further analyses revealed non-random combinations of co-expression between family-C V2Rs and genes of the class Ib major histocompatibility complex. Thus, each basal neuron of the vomeronasal organ represents a highly qualified sensory unit for detecting very specific combinations of pheromonal cues.
2007
Combinatorial co-expression of pheromone receptors, V2Rs / Silvotti, Lucia; Moiani, A; Gatti, Rita; Tirindelli, Roberto. - In: JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY. - ISSN 0022-3042. - 103:(2007), pp. 1753-1763. [10.1111/j.1471-4159.2007.04877.x]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2295924
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