TLDR Lampreys have a functional vitamin D receptor that may help detoxify harmful substances.
Researchers cloned a functional vitamin D receptor (VDR) from the lamprey (Petromyzon marinus), an ancient vertebrate without mineralized tissues or hair. Despite these absences, the lamprey VDR (lampVDR) bound 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 with high affinity and activated a reporter gene linked to a vitamin D-responsive element from the human CYP3A4 gene in mammalian cells. However, lampVDR showed little or no activity with other vitamin D responsive elements. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that lampVDR is a basal member of the VDR group, closely related to pregnane X receptors and constitutive androstane receptors, suggesting its role in xenobiotic detoxification in lampreys.
73 citations,
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1308 citations,
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28 citations,
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1533 citations,
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271 citations,
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115 citations,
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276 citations,
April 2003 in “Molecular endocrinology” Vitamin D is important for bones, hair, blood pressure, and breast development.
