Abstract
Genetic polymorphism in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene has been reported in both human and nonhuman primates, and the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism has been related to several neurological and psychiatric disorders. As New World primates have been employed as models in biomedical research in these fields, in the present study we assessed genetic variation in the DAT gene in 25 robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) and 39 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Using enzymatic amplification followed by sequencing of amplified fragments, a VNTR polymorphism in the 3′-UTR region of the DAT gene was identified in both robust capuchins and common marmosets. The polymorphic tandem repeat of 40-bp basic units is similar to the human VNTR consensus sequence, with size variants composed of 9, 10, and 11 units in marmosets and 8, 9, 13, and 17 basic units in capuchins. We found behavioral evidence that carrying the 10-repeat DAT allele promotes flexible choice and maximization of foraging in marmosets tested in an operant choice paradigm. Moreover, in an intertemporal choice task, capuchins with longer repeat variants show less self-controlled choices than capuchins with at least one short repeat variant. Future research should focus on the relationship between these DAT polymorphisms, dopamine reuptake via the dopamine transporter, and behavioral and cognitive variation across New World monkey individuals.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 169-178 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Primates |
| Volume | 58 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Callithrix jacchus
- Common marmoset
- Dopamine transporter gene
- Gene polymorphism
- New World primates
- Platyrrhini
- Robust capuchin monkeys
- Sapajus spp
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Animal Science and Zoology
Cite this
Polymorphism of the 3′-UTR of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT) in New World monkeys. / Lucarelli, Marco; Visalberghi, Elisabetta; Adriani, Walter; Addessi, Elsa; Pierandrei, Silvia; Manciocco, Arianna; Zoratto, Francesca; Tamellini, Andrea; Vitale, Augusto; Laviola, Giovanni; Alfaro, Jessica Lynch; Pascale, Esterina.
In: Primates, Vol. 58, No. 1, 01.01.2017, p. 169-178.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Polymorphism of the 3′-UTR of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT) in New World monkeys
AU - Lucarelli, Marco
AU - Visalberghi, Elisabetta
AU - Adriani, Walter
AU - Addessi, Elsa
AU - Pierandrei, Silvia
AU - Manciocco, Arianna
AU - Zoratto, Francesca
AU - Tamellini, Andrea
AU - Vitale, Augusto
AU - Laviola, Giovanni
AU - Alfaro, Jessica Lynch
AU - Pascale, Esterina
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Genetic polymorphism in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene has been reported in both human and nonhuman primates, and the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism has been related to several neurological and psychiatric disorders. As New World primates have been employed as models in biomedical research in these fields, in the present study we assessed genetic variation in the DAT gene in 25 robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) and 39 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Using enzymatic amplification followed by sequencing of amplified fragments, a VNTR polymorphism in the 3′-UTR region of the DAT gene was identified in both robust capuchins and common marmosets. The polymorphic tandem repeat of 40-bp basic units is similar to the human VNTR consensus sequence, with size variants composed of 9, 10, and 11 units in marmosets and 8, 9, 13, and 17 basic units in capuchins. We found behavioral evidence that carrying the 10-repeat DAT allele promotes flexible choice and maximization of foraging in marmosets tested in an operant choice paradigm. Moreover, in an intertemporal choice task, capuchins with longer repeat variants show less self-controlled choices than capuchins with at least one short repeat variant. Future research should focus on the relationship between these DAT polymorphisms, dopamine reuptake via the dopamine transporter, and behavioral and cognitive variation across New World monkey individuals.
AB - Genetic polymorphism in the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of the dopamine transporter (DAT) gene has been reported in both human and nonhuman primates, and the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism has been related to several neurological and psychiatric disorders. As New World primates have been employed as models in biomedical research in these fields, in the present study we assessed genetic variation in the DAT gene in 25 robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) and 39 common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Using enzymatic amplification followed by sequencing of amplified fragments, a VNTR polymorphism in the 3′-UTR region of the DAT gene was identified in both robust capuchins and common marmosets. The polymorphic tandem repeat of 40-bp basic units is similar to the human VNTR consensus sequence, with size variants composed of 9, 10, and 11 units in marmosets and 8, 9, 13, and 17 basic units in capuchins. We found behavioral evidence that carrying the 10-repeat DAT allele promotes flexible choice and maximization of foraging in marmosets tested in an operant choice paradigm. Moreover, in an intertemporal choice task, capuchins with longer repeat variants show less self-controlled choices than capuchins with at least one short repeat variant. Future research should focus on the relationship between these DAT polymorphisms, dopamine reuptake via the dopamine transporter, and behavioral and cognitive variation across New World monkey individuals.
KW - Callithrix jacchus
KW - Common marmoset
KW - Dopamine transporter gene
KW - Gene polymorphism
KW - New World primates
KW - Platyrrhini
KW - Robust capuchin monkeys
KW - Sapajus spp
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84981289067&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84981289067&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10329-016-0560-0
DO - 10.1007/s10329-016-0560-0
M3 - Article
C2 - 27503104
AN - SCOPUS:84981289067
VL - 58
SP - 169
EP - 178
JO - Primates
JF - Primates
SN - 0032-8332
IS - 1
ER -