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Polymorphism of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) gene is associated with chimpanzee neuroticism

Hong, Kyung-Won, Weiss, Alexander, Morimura, Naruki, Udono, Toshifumi, Hayasaka, Ikuo, Humle, Tatyana, Murayama, Yuichi, Ito, Shin'ichi, Inoue-Murayama, Miho (2011) Polymorphism of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) gene is associated with chimpanzee neuroticism. PLoS ONE, 6 (7). e22144. ISSN 1932-6203. (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0022144) (KAR id:38025)

Abstract

In the brain, serotonin production is controlled by tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2), a genotype. Previous studies found that mutations on the TPH2 locus in humans were associated with depression and studies of mice and studies of rhesus macaques have shown that the TPH2 locus was involved with aggressive behavior. We previously reported a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the form of an amino acid substitution, Q468R, in the chimpanzee TPH2 gene coding region. In the present study we tested whether this SNP was associated with neuroticism in captive and wild-born chimpanzees living in Japan and Guinea, respectively. Even after correcting for multiple tests (Bonferroni p = 0.05/6 = 0.008), Q468R was significantly related to higher neuroticism (β = 0.372, p = 0.005). This study is the first to identify a genotype linked to a personality trait in chimpanzees. In light of the prior studies on humans, mice, and rhesus macaques, these findings suggest that the relationship between neuroticism and TPH2 has deep phylogenetic roots.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022144
Uncontrolled keywords: article, chimpanzee, controlled study, female, gene, genetic association, genotype, male, neurosis, nonhuman, personality, single nucleotide polymorphism, tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene, animal, enzymology, genetics, Guinea, human, Japan, Pan troglodytes, statistical model, Macaca mulatta, Mus, Pan, tryptophan hydroxylase, Animals, Female, Guinea, Humans, Japan, Linear Models, Male, Neurotic Disorders, Pan troglodytes, Personality, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Tryptophan Hydroxylase
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: Tatyana Humle
Date Deposited: 04 Apr 2014 10:49 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:14 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/38025 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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