Long-wavelength sensitive opsin (LWS) gene variability in Neotropical cichlids (Teleostei: Cichlidae)
An. acad. bras. ciênc
;
89(1): 213-222, Jan,-Mar. 2017. tab, graf
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-886631
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Cichlid fishes are an important group in evolutionary biology due to their fast speciation. This group depends widely of vision for feeding and reproduction. During the evolutionary process it plays a significant role in interspecific and intraspecific recognition and in its ecology. The molecular basis of vision is formed by the interaction of the protein opsin and retinal chromophore. Long-wavelength sensitive opsin (LWS) gene is the most variable among the opsin genes and it has an ecological significance. Current assay identifies interspecific variation of Neotropical cichlids that would modify the spectral properties of the LWS opsin protein and codons selected. Neotropical species present more variable sites for LWS gene than those of the African lakes species. The LWS opsin gene in Crenicichla britskii has a higher amino acid similarity when compared to that in the African species, but the variable regions do not overlap. Neotropical cichlids accumulate larger amounts of variable sites for LWS opsin gene, probably because they are spread over a wider area and submitted to a wider range of selective pressures by inhabiting mainly lotic environments. Furthermore, the codons under selection are different when compared to those of the African cichlids.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Genetic Variation
/
Rod Opsins
/
Cichlids
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
/
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
An. acad. bras. ciênc
Journal subject:
Science
Year:
2017
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Universidade Estadual de Maringá/BR
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