Journal
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
Volume 31, Issue 2, Pages 303-309Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mst219
Keywords
bitter taste receptor; Tas2r; herbivore; carnivore; omnivore
Funding
- Chinese Agriculture Research System [CARS-41]
- U.S. National Institutes of Health [GM080285]
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Vertebrate Tas2r taste receptors bind to bitter compounds, which are typically poisonous, to elicit bitter sensation to prevent the ingestion of toxins. Previous studies noted a marked variation in the number of Tas2r genes among species, but the underlying cause is unclear. To address this question, we compile the Tas2r gene repertoires from 41 mammals, 4 birds, 2 reptiles, 1 amphibian, and 6 fishes. The number of intact Tas2r genes varies from 0 in the bottlenose dolphin to 51 in the Western clawed frog, with numerous expansions and contractions of the gene family throughout vertebrates, especially among tetrapods. The Tas2r gene number in a species correlates with the fraction of plants in its diet. Because plant tissues contain more toxic compounds than animal tissues do, our observation supports the hypothesis that dietary toxins are a major selective force shaping the diversity of the Tas2r repertoire.
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