Elucidation of a gene duplication and the gain of function of the estrogen receptor during the evolution

雌性激素受体与雌性激素雌激素相互作用，参与脊椎动物体内平衡维持的机制。然而，雌激素受体基因和蛋白的分子进化尚不清楚。本研究主题为雌激素受体基因的出现与有机进化，并阐明其功能获得的过程。结果，很明显，板鳃鱼有雌激素受体基因，可以像高等脊椎动物一样编码功能性受体。我们的功能分析表明，雌激素受体作为激素依赖性转录因子的功能可能在进化过程中获得。上述结果将成为阐明雌激素受体分子进化的重要线索。

The estrogen receptor interacts with estrogen which is female sex hormone, and participates in mechanism of the homeostatic maintenance of the vertebrates. However, it is yet unknown that the molecular evolution of estrogen receptor gene and protein. This research theme was carried out for the appearance of the estrogen receptor gene with the organic evolution and the elucidation of the process of the gain of function. As a result, it became clear that the elasmobranchii has the estrogen receptor genes that encode a functional receptor like higher vertebrates. Our functional analysis suggest that the function of estrogen receptor as a hormone-dependent transcription factor might be gain through the evolutionary process. The above-mentioned result will become the important clue in elucidating the molecular evolution of the estrogen receptor.