美国加州大学旧金山分校Ryan E. Hibbs等研究人员合作发现，感觉特化驱动章鱼和鱿鱼的行为。2023年4月12日出版的《自然》杂志发表了这项成果。
研究人员表明，章鱼和鱿鱼都使用头足类特有的化学触觉受体（CR）来感知它们各自的海洋环境，但这些受体的结构适应性支持适合不同生理作用的特定分子的感知。研究人员发现鱿鱼表达的古老CR更接近于相关的烟碱乙酰胆碱受体，而章鱼则表现出CR更近期的扩展，与它们精心设计的“触觉味觉”感觉系统相一致。利用遗传分析、生理学和行为分析的结合，研究人员确定了鱿鱼CR的创始成员，它能检测与伏击捕食有关的可溶性苦味分子。研究人员报道了鱿鱼CR的冷冻电镜结构，并将其与章鱼CR和烟碱受体进行比较。
这些分析表明，从协调可溶性神经递质或味觉剂的祖先芳香“笼子”到最近章鱼CR疏水结合袋的演化过渡，该结合袋捕获不溶性分子来介导接触依赖的化学感觉。因此，这项研究为理解蛋白质结构的适应如何驱动生物体性状和行为的多样化提供了基础。
据悉，新性状的演化使其能够扩展到新的生态和行为环境中。然而，在蛋白质结构、功能和特定品系行为的分化之间表现出的联系仍然很罕见。
附：英文原文
Title: Sensory specializations drive octopus and squid behaviour
Author: Kang, Guipeun, Allard, Corey A. H., Valencia-Montoya, Wendy A., van Giesen, Lena, Kim, Jeong Joo, Kilian, Peter B., Bai, Xiaochen, Bellono, Nicholas W., Hibbs, Ryan E.
Issue&Volume: 2023-04-12
Abstract: The evolution of new traits enables expansion into new ecological and behavioural niches. Nonetheless, demonstrated connections between divergence in protein structure, function and lineage-specific behaviours remain rare. Here we show that both octopus and squid use cephalopod-specific chemotactile receptors (CRs) to sense their respective marine environments, but structural adaptations in these receptors support the sensation of specific molecules suited to distinct physiological roles. We find that squid express ancient CRs that more closely resemble related nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, whereas octopuses exhibit a more recent expansion in CRs consistent with their elaborated ‘taste by touch’ sensory system. Using a combination of genetic profiling, physiology and behavioural analyses, we identify the founding member of squid CRs that detects soluble bitter molecules that are relevant in ambush predation. We present the cryo-electron microscopy structure of a squid CR and compare this with octopus CRs1 and nicotinic receptors2. These analyses demonstrate an evolutionary transition from an ancestral aromatic ‘cage’ that coordinates soluble neurotransmitters or tastants to a more recent octopus CR hydrophobic binding pocket that traps insoluble molecules to mediate contact-dependent chemosensation. Thus, our study provides a foundation for understanding how adaptation of protein structure drives the diversification of organismal traits and behaviour.
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05808-z
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05808-z
Nature：《自然》，创刊于1869年。隶属于施普林格·自然出版集团，最新IF：69.504
官方网址：http://www.nature.com/
投稿链接：http://www.nature.com/authors/submit_manuscript.html
本期文章：《自然》：Online/在线发表
