Investigating Molecular Evolution of Two Genes (NTRK1 and GRIA4) in Primates Potentially Involved in Pain and Anxiety Chronification

Thousands of genes have known associations with variation in pain and anxiety, but little is known about the evolutionary history of many of these genes. Two relevant candidate genes, GRIA4 and NTRK1, were selected for detailed protein analysis across human and nonhuman primates. Using statistical modelling, these genes were analyzed for signals of selective pressure. GRIA4 was highly conserved across primates, reflecting strong, pervasive negative selection throughout the gene. NTRK1 was conversely highly variable across primates, with higher rates of synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations. Little evidence of positive selection was found for NTRK1, but a functionally relevant sequence of 9 consecutive amino acids were identified as having been lost in two species of gibbon (Nomascus leucogenys and Hylobates moloch), likely as a result of chromosomal rearrangement.

Author

• Stoppani, Esther Leigh

Language

• en

Keyword

• brain evolution
• anxiety disorders
• molecular evolution
• chronic pain
• pain genetics
• NTRK1

Date created

• 2023

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Hominid Paleobiology

Degree

• M.S.

Advisor

• Bradley, Brenda J
• Sherwood, Chet C

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/tq57nr97p