Our lab has published findings on convergent balancing selection on the mu-opioid receptor in primates in Molecular Biology and Evolution.
Research Focus: This study investigates convergent balancing selection on the mu-opioid receptor across primate species, identifying common polymorphisms in humans (A118G, C17T) and parallel variations in non-human primates including rhesus macaques, cynomolgus macaques, vervet monkeys, marmosets, and squirrel monkeys.
Key Findings:
- Identification of functional polymorphisms in mu-opioid receptor across multiple primate species
- Demonstration of functional effects on downstream signaling following treatment with β-endorphin, morphine, DAMGO, and fentanyl
- Evidence of convergent evolution suggesting shared environmental pressures
- Implications for translational research and understanding addiction mechanisms
Citation: Sweeney CG, Rando JM, Panas HN, Miller GM, Platt DM, Vallender EJ. Convergent balancing selection on the mu-opioid receptor in primates. Mol. Biol. Evol. 2017 Jul 1;34(7):1629-1643.