Recent research has shown that variation in the gene encoding for the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) contributes to individual differences in social-cognitive and emotional functioning in both clinical and non-clinical populations. OXTR has been associated with prosocial behavior, positive and negative emotionality, empathy, maternal sensitivity, and stress reactivity. To date, no study has investigated OXTR in the context of behavioral and emotional reactions to betrayals in trust. The present study examined how variation in 10 SNPs on OXTR may contribute to individual differences in behavior, emotional reactions, and perceptions following a betrayal in trust in an iterated prisoner’s dilemma game. Following correction for multiple testing, one SNP (rs237887) and two haplotypes (A-rs237887, C-rs2268490; G-rs237887, C-rs2268490) were significantly associated with positive emotional reactions to betrayal. In addition, one haplotype (C-rs9840864, T-rs2268490) was significantly associated with negative emotional reactions to betrayal. The present findings suggest that variation on OXTR may contribute to individual differences in emotional reactions to betrayals in trust.

Submitted by Sandro Camargo (sandro.camargo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2015-03-08T19:40:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 117110035.pdf: 2502976 bytes, checksum: 4587ac7502f70421540e27b087febdfb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-08T19:40:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 117110035.pdf: 2502976 bytes, checksum: 4587ac7502f70421540e27b087febdfb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-05 / A oxitocina e a vasopressina são nonapeptídeos intimamente relacionados que surgiram a partir de duplicações em tandem ocorridas no ancestral comum dos vertebrados mandibulados e que desempenham importantes funções fisiológicas e comportamentais em muitos organismos. Suas atividades são mediadas através das interações com o receptor da oxitocina (OXTR) e com os receptores da vasopressina (AVPR1a, AVPR1b e AVPR2). O objetivo do presente estudo é caracterizar a evolução molecular dessa família de receptores num conjunto grande de organismos. Assim como, avaliar a variabilidade genética de OXTR na espécie Ovis aries que ainda não possui seu genoma disponível nos bancos de dados. Devido à conservação dos nonapeptídeos, ao menos considerando os mamíferos, acredita-se que a evolução do sistema esteja ocorrendo através de seus receptores, que, portanto são o centro deste estudo. Através de sequências nucleotídicas e proteicas para todos os receptores da oxitocina e da vasopressina obtidas nos bancos de dados HMMER e Uniprot foram realizadas análises filogenéticas por máxima verossimilhança no programa Mega 5.0. Os dados disponíveis no site Genomicus foram utilizados para a realização da sintenia e vizinhança. O padrão de evolução molecular foi estabelecido utilizando um conjunto de 23 espécies de mamíferos usando o pacote Paml 4.6. A fim de contribuir com o conhecimento da espécie Ovis aries analisou-se o gene OXTR, na raça Crioula Lanada (N=35) que apresenta um padrão distinto de seleção em comparação com as raças Ile de France (N=6) e Ideal (N=5) que são selecionadas para corte e lã. Nossos resultados indicam que OXTR, AVPR1a, AVPR1b, AVPR2 e o bloco sintênico desses receptores emergiram com o ancestral comum dos vertebrados no primeiro evento de duplicação do genoma. Primeiramente foram originados, o gene ancestral de AVPR1a e AVPR1b e o gene ancestral de OXTR e AVPR2. Os quatro receptores observados hoje se originaram após o segundo evento de duplicação do genoma ter ocorrido no ancestral comum dos vertebrados. Em termos de evolução molecular foram encontrados padrões distintos entre animais domesticados e selvagens nos receptores AVPR1a e AVPR1b. Isso indica que os animais domesticados estão sob seleção positiva para esses genes, clara marca molecular que pode estar ligada ao processo de seleção para docilidade, num contexto de evolução convergente. Para a espécie Ovis aries foi amplificado um total de 1644 pares de base (pb) obtidos do DNA das três raçasovinas estudadas. Embora tenha sido registrada variação entre as raças, não há uma quebra no padrão de evolução neutro com sinal de seleção purificadora. O que reforça a ideia que o sistema todo esteja evoluindo via os dois receptores de AVP, cuja origem filogenética é comum, AVPR1a e AVPR1b. / Oxytocin and vasopressin are closely related nonapeptides that arose from tandem duplication occurred in the common ancestor of jawed vertebrates and play important physiological and behavioral functions in many organisms. Its activities are mediated through interactions with the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and vasopressin receptors (AVPR1a, AVPR1b and AVPR2). The aim of this study is to characterize the molecular evolution of this family of receptors in a large set of organisms. As well as, assess the genetic variability of the OXTR from Ovis aries species that does not have its genome available in databases. Due to the conservation of nonapeptides, at least considering the mammals, it is believed that the evolution of the system is going through their receptors, which therefore are the focus of this study. Through nucleotide and protein sequences for all oxytocin and vasopressin receptors obtained in databases UniProt and HMMER, phylogenetic analyzes were performed by maximum likelihood in the Mega 5.0 program. Available data on the website Genomicus were used to carry out the synteny and neighborhood. The pattern of molecular evolution was established using a set of 23 mammalian species using the Paml 4.6 package. To contribute to the knowledge of the Ovis aries species it was analyzed the OXTR gene, in the Creole Lanada breed (N = 35) that presents a distinct pattern of selection compared to the breeds Ile de France (N = 6) and Ideal (N = 5) that are selected for cutting and wool. Our results indicate that OXTR, AVPR1A, AVPR1b, AVPR2 and the sintenic block of these receptors emerged with the common ancestor of vertebrates in the first genome duplication event. First, was originated the ancestral gene of AVPR1A and AVPR1b and the ancestral gene of OXTR and AVPR2. The four receptors observed today originated after the second genome duplication event occurred in the common ancestor of vertebrates. In terms of molecular evolution were found distinct patterns between domesticated and wild animals in the AVPR1A and AVPR1b receptors. This indicates that domesticated animals are under positive selection for these genes, clearly molecular mark which may be linked to the process of selection for docility, in the context of convergent evolution. For the Ovis aries species was amplified a total of 1644 base pairs (bp) of DNA obtained from three sheep breeds studied. Although has been found variation between the breeds, there is no break in the pattern of neutrality with signal of purifying selection. This strengthens the idea that the whole system is evolvingthrough the two AVP receptors, whose phylogenetic origin is common, AVPR1A and VPR1b.

abstract: The current study examined the unique influence of emotional childhood abuse on positive and negative aspects of different types of social relationships (e.g., family, spouse/partner, and friends) in midlife and whether genetic variations of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) moderated these associations. Genetic variations in OXTR are measured by single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which have been the most substantially studied prospects for explaining individual differences in socio-behavioral phenotypes. Specifically, an SNP, rs53576, involving a guanine (G) to adenine (A) substitution located in the third intron of the OXTR has been associated with fundamental aspects of social processes and behaviors. Compared to A carriers, individuals homozygous for the G allele have enhanced social competencies and tend to elicit more positive responses from social partners, consequently increasing the overall quality of social relationships across the lifespan. However, the G allele of the OXTR has also been associated with greater social sensitivity. In the current study, conducted among a sample of 614 adults in midlife, it was shown that emotional childhood abuse was significantly associated with having less supportive and more strained relationships in midlife. Regarding supportive family relationships, the effect of emotional childhood abuse was moderated by the OXTR rs53576 polymorphism. Specifically, under conditions of more emotional abuse in childhood, individuals homozygous for the G allele had more supportive family relationships in midlife compared to A carriers. Overall, the findings suggest that genetic variations of OXTR rs53576 may be an important candidate in understanding the development of social relationship functioning within the context of negative early life experiences. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Psychology 2018