Work

Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of the African Giant Pouched Rat (Cricetomys Ansorgei) and Evolutionary Analysis Reveals Evidence of Olfactory Specialization

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: The Southern giant pouched rat, Cricetomys ansorgei, is a large rodent best known for its ability to detect landmines using its impressive sense of smell. Their powerful chemosensory abilities enable subtle discrimination of chemical social signals, and female pouched rats demonstrate a unique reproductive physiology hypothesized to be mediated by pheromonal mechanisms. Thus, C. ansorgei represents a novel mammalian model for chemosensory physiology, social behavior, and pheromonal control of reproductive physiology. We present the first chromosome-scale genomic sequence of the pouched rat encoding 22,671 protein coding genes, including 1571 olfactory receptors, and provide a glance into the evolutionary history of this species. Functional enrichment analysis reveals genetic expansions specific to the pouched rat are enriched for functions related to olfactory specialization. Overall, this assembly is of reference-quality, and will serve as a useful and informative genomic sequence on which we can confidently base future molecular research involving the pouched rat.

Source: Genomics

DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110521

Authors: Ehren J. Bentz, Alexander G. Ophir

Institution: Cornell University

Language: English

Topic: Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,410

Funders: National Science Foundation, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Army Research Office