Skip Navigation



MBE Advance Access published online on March 10, 2004
Molecular Biology and Evolution, doi:10.1093/molbev/msh104
Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2004; all rights reserved
This Article
Right arrow Advance Access manuscript (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
21/6/1057    most recent
msh104v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hammock, E. A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Young, L. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hammock, E. A. D.
Right arrow Articles by Young, L. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Accepted January 15, 2004
© 2004 Molecular Biology and Evolution © Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution 2004; all rights reserved.

Original Articles

Functional Microsatellite Polymorphism Associated with Divergent Social Structure in Vole Species

Elizabeth A. D. Hammock 1* and Larry J. Young 1

1 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: lizhammock{at}aol.com.


  Abstract

Forebrain vasopressin/vasotocin systems regulate a diverse set of complex social behaviors in a species-specific manner. Among mammals, vasopressin gene sequences and peptide distributions in the brain are highly conserved across species. In contrast, vasopressin V1a receptors (V1aR) are conserved at the protein level, but not at the level of gene structure or neuroanatomical distribution of the receptor. Here we examine the functional role of a microsatellite segment in the 5' region of V1aR that differs significantly between monogamous and non-monogamous vole species with divergent V1aR expression patterns. Using luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrate that this microsatellite plays a significant role in transcriptional regulation in a cell-type specific manner. These results suggest that significant evolutionary changes in social behavior can occur through variation in regulatory regions of genes already involved in social behavior.

Key Words: vole, vasopressin receptor, VNTR, SSR, microsatellite, monogamy, evolution, promoter


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ScienceHome page
Z. R. Donaldson and L. J. Young
Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and the Neurogenetics of Sociality
Science, November 7, 2008; 322(5903): 900 - 904.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Bull.Home page
C. C. Keever, J. Sunday, C. Wood, M. Byrne, and M. W. Hart
Discovery and Cross-Amplification of Microsatellite Polymorphisms in Asterinid Sea Stars
Biol. Bull., October 1, 2008; 215(2): 164 - 172.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Phil Trans R Soc BHome page
E. A.D Hammock and L. J Young
Oxytocin, vasopressin and pair bonding: implications for autism
Phil Trans R Soc B, December 29, 2006; 361(1476): 2187 - 2198.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USAHome page
S. Fink, L. Excoffier, and G. Heckel
Mammalian monogamy is not controlled by a single gene
PNAS, July 18, 2006; 103(29): 10956 - 10960.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PhysiologyHome page
H. P. Nair and L. J. Young
Vasopressin and Pair-Bond Formation: Genes to Brain to Behavior
Physiology, April 1, 2006; 21(2): 146 - 152.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Neurosci.Home page
H. P. Nair, A. R. Gutman, M. Davis, and L. J. Young
Central Oxytocin, Vasopressin, and Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Densities in the Basal Forebrain Predict Isolation Potentiated Startle in Rats
J. Neurosci., December 7, 2005; 25(49): 11479 - 11488.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ScienceHome page
E. A. D. Hammock and L. J. Young
Microsatellite Instability Generates Diversity in Brain and Sociobehavioral Traits
Science, June 10, 2005; 308(5728): 1630 - 1634.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.