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Molecular evolution and deorphanization of bitter taste receptors in a vampire bat
Author(s) -
LU Qin,
JIAO Hengwu,
WANG Yi,
NORBU Ngawang,
ZHAO Huabin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
integrative zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 1749-4877
DOI - 10.1111/1749-4877.12509
Subject(s) - desmodus rotundus , vampire , biology , bitter taste , taste receptor , receptor , zoology , evolutionary biology , taste , genetics , neuroscience , virology , computer science , programming language , rabies
Bats represent the largest dietary radiation in a single mammalian order, and have become an emerging model group for studying dietary evolution. Taste receptor genes have proven to be molecular signatures of dietary diversification in bats. For example, all 3 extant species of vampire bats have lost many bitter taste receptor genes ( Tas2r s) in association with their dietary shift from insectivory to sanguivory. Indeed, only 8 full‐length Tas2r s were identified from the high‐quality genome of the common vampire bat ( Desmodus rotundus ). However, it is presently unknown whether these bitter receptors are functional, since the sense of taste is less important in vampire bats, which have an extremely narrow diet and rely on other senses for acquiring food. Here, we applied a molecular evolutionary analysis of Tas2r s in the common vampire bat compared with non‐vampire bats. Furthermore, we provided the first attempt to deorphanize all bitter receptors of the vampire bat using a cell‐based assay. We found that all Tas2r genes in the vampire bat have a level of selective pressure similar to that in non‐vampire bats, suggesting that this species must have retained some bitter taste functions. We demonstrated that 5 of the 8 bitter receptors in the vampire bat can be activated by some bitter compounds, and observed that the vampire bat generally can not detect naturally occurring bitter compounds examined in this study. Our study demonstrates functional retention of bitter taste in vampire bats as suggested by cell‐based functional assays, calling for an in‐depth study of extra‐oral functions of bitter taste receptors.