Publications


Opazo, J.C., Vandewege, M.W., Hoffmann, F.G., Zavala, K., Melendez, C., Luchsinger, C., Cavieres, V.A., Vargas-Chacoff, L., Morera, F.J., Burgos, P.V., Tapia-Rojas, C. & Mardones, G.A. How many sirtuin genes are out there? evolution of sirtuin genes in vertebrates with a description of a new family member. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2023. Link


Cabezas-Bratesco, D., McGee, F.A., Colenso, C.K., Zavala, K., Granata, D., Carnevale, V., Opazo, J.C. & Brauchi, S.E. Sequence and structural conservation reveal fingerprint residues in TRP channels. eLife. 2022. Link


Opazo, J.C., Zavala, K., Vargas-Chacoff, L., Morera, F.J., Mardones, G.A. Identification of multiple TAR DNA Binding Protein retropseudogene lineages during the evolution of primates. Scientific Reports. 2022. 12: 3823. Link


Opazo, J.C., Hoffmann, F.G., Zavala, K. & Edwards, S. Evolution of the DAN gene family in vertebrates. Developmental Biology. 2022. 482: 34-43. Link


Gutierrez, J., Platt II, R.N., Opazo, J.C., Ray, D.A., Hoffmann, F.G., Vandewege, M.W. Evolutionary history of the vertebrate Piwi gene family. PeerJ. 2021. 9: e12451 Link


Hoffmann, F.G., Storz, J.F., Kuraku, S., Vandewege, M.W. & Opazo J.C. Whole genome duplications and the diversification of the Globin-X genes of vertebrates. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2021. 13: 10. Link


Opazo, J.C., Vandewege, M.W., Gutierrez, J., Zavala, K., Vargas-Chacoff, L., Morera, F.J., Mardones, G.A. Independent duplications of the Golgi phosphoprotein 3 oncogene in birds. Scientific Reports. 2021. 11: 12483. Link


Tejada Martinez, D., de Magalhaes, J.P. & Opazo, J.C. Positive selection and fast turnover rate in tumor suppressor genes reveal how cetaceans resist cancer. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 2021. 288: 20202592. Link


Prothmann, A., Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C., Herbener, P., Storz, J.F., Burmester, T. & Hankeln, T. The globin gene family in arthropods: Evolution and functional diversity. Frontiers in Genetics. 2020. 11:858. Link


Storz, J.F., Quiroga-Carmona, M., Opazo, J.C., Bowen, T., Farson, M., Steppan, S. & D'Elia, G. Discovery of the world's highest-dwelling mammal. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2020. 117: 18169-18171. Link


Flores-Aldama, L., Vandewege, M.W., Zavala, K., Colenso, C.K., Bustos, D., Gonzalez, W., Brauchi, S.E. & Opazo, J.C. Evolutionary analyses reveal independent origins of gene repertoires and structural motifs associated to fast inactivation in calcium-selective TRPV channels. Scientific Reports. 2020. 10: 8684. Link


Teta, P., D Elia, G., Opazo, J.C. Integrative taxonomy of the southernmost tucu-tucus in the world: differentiation of the nominal forms associated with Ctenomys magellanicus Bennett, 1836 (Rodentia, Hystricomorpha, Ctenomyidae). Mammalian Biology. 2020. 100: 125-139. Link


Opazo, J.C., Kuraku, S., Zavala, K., Toloza-Villalobos, J. & Hoffmann, FG. Evolution of Nodal and Nodal-related genes and the putative composition of the heterodimers that trigger the Nodal pathway in vertebrates. Evolution & Development. 2019. 1-13. Link


Figueroa, R.J., Reig, G., Stanic, K., Wichmann, I.A., Opazo, J.C., Owen, G.I., Corvalan, A.H., Concha, M.L. & Amigo, J.D. The reprimo gene family member, reprimo-like (rprml), is required for blood development in embryionic zebrafish. Scientific Reports. 2019. 9:7131. Link


D Elia, G., Jaksic, F., Bacigalupe, L.D., Bozinovic, F., Canto, J.L., Correa, C.C., Fonturbel, F.E., Lison, F., Mendez, M.A., Nespolo, R., Opazo, J.C., Palma, E., Rau, J.R., Rodriguez, S.M., Rodriguez-Serrano, E., Sabat, P., Vasquez, R.A. Victoriano, P. Sugerencias para mejorar la regulacion chilena de manipulacion de vertebrados terrestres en poblaciones naturales en el contexto de investigaciones cientificas. Gayana. 2019. 83: 63-67. Link


Opazo, J.C. & Zavala, K. Phylogenetic evidence for independent origins of GDF1 and GDF3 genes in anurans and mammals. Scientific Reports. 2018. 8:13595. Link


Giorello, F., Feijoo, M., D Elia, G., Naya, D., Valdez, L., Opazo, J.C. & Lessa, E. An association between differential expression and genetic divergence in the patagonian olive mouse (Abrothrix olivacea). Molecular Ecology. 2018. 1-13. Link


Amigo, JD., Opazo, J.C., Jorquera, R., Wichmann, IA., Garcia-Bloj, B., Alarcon, MA., Owen, GI., Corvalan, AH. The reprimo gene family: a novel tumor suppressor gene lineage in gastric cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018. 19: 1862. Link


Opazo, J.C., Zavala, K., Miranda-Rottmann, A. & Araya, R. Evolution of dopamine receptors: Phylogenetic evidence suggests a later origin of the DRD2l and DRD4rs dopamine receptor gene lineages. PeerJ. 2018. 6:e4593. Link


Stanic, K., Quiroz, A., Lemus, C.G., Wichmann, I.A., Corvalan, A.H., Owen, G.I., Opazo, J.C., Concha, M.L. & Amigo, J.D. Expression of RPRM/rprm in the olfactory system of embryonic Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 2018. 12:23. Link


Hoffmann, F.G., Vandewege, M.W., Storz, J.F. & Opazo, J.C. Gene turnover and diversification of the alpha and beta globin gene families of sauropsid vertebrates. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2018. 10: 344-358. Link


Malone, L., Opazo, J.C., Ryan, P.L. & Hoffmann, F.G. Progressive erosion of the relaxin1 gene in bovids. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2017. 252: 12-17. Link


Cespedes, H.A., Zavala, K. Vandewege, M.W. & Opazo, J.C. Evolution of the alpha2 adrenoreceptors in vertebrates: ADRA2D is absent in mammals and crocodiles. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2017. 250: 85-94. Link


Figueroa, R., Carrasco-Avino, G., Wichmann, I.A., Lange, M., Owen, G.I., Siekmann, A.F., Corvalan, A.H., Opazo, J.C. & Amigo, J.D. Reprimo tissue-specific expression pattern is conserved between zebrafish and human. PLoS One. 2017. 12(5): e0178274. Link


Zavala, K., Vandewege, M.W., Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Evolution of the beta-adrenoreceptors in vertebrates. General and Comparative Endocrinology. 2017. 240: 129-137. Link


Opazo, J.C., Zavala, K., Krall, P. & Arias, R.A. Evolution of gremlin 2 in cetartiodactyl mammals: genes loss coincides with lack of upper jaw incisors in ruminants. PeerJ. 2017. 5:e2901.


Wichmann, I.A., Zavala, K., Hoffmann, F.G., Vandewege, M.W., Corvalan, A.H., Amigo, J.D., Owen, G.I. & Opazo, J.C. Evolutionary history of the reprimo tumor suppressor gene family in vertebrates with a description of a new reprimo gene lineage. Gene. 2016. 591: 145-254.


Zavala, K. & Opazo, J.C. Lineage-specific expansion of the chalcone synthase gene family in rosids. PLoS One. 2015. 10(7): e0133400.


Opazo, J.C., Lee, A.L., Hoffmann, F.G., Toloza-Villalobos, J., Burmester, T., Venkatesh, B. & Storz, J.F. Ancient duplications and expression divergence in the globin gene superfamily of vertebrates: Insights from the elephant shark genome and transcriptome. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2015. 32: 1684-1694.


Valdez, L., Giorello, F., Feijoo, M., Opazo, J.C., Lessa, E.P., Naya, D. & D Elia, G. Characterization of the kidney transcriptome of the long-haired mouse Abrothrix hirta (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae) and comparison to renal expression profile in the closely-related A. Olivacea. PLoS One. 2015. 10(4): e0121148.


Opazo, J.C., Hoffmann, F.G., Natarajan, C., Witt, C.C., Berenbrink, M. & Storz, J.F. Gene turnover in the avian globin gene families and evolutionary changes in hemoglobin isoform expression. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2015. 32: 871-887.


Toloza-Villalobos, J., Arroyo, J.I. & Opazo, J.C. The circadian clock of teleost fish: a comparative analysis reveals distinct fates for duplicated genes. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2015. 80: 57-64.


Green, R.E., Braun, E.L., Armstrong, J., Vandewege, M.W., St John, J.A., Capella-Gutierrez, S., Castoe, T.A., Kern, C., Fujita, M.K., Opazo, J.C., Jurka, J., Kojima, K.K., Caballero, J., Smit, A., Platt, R.N., Lavoie, C.A., Ramakodi, M Isberg, S.R., Miles, L., Chong, A.Y., Jaratlerdsiri, W., Gongora, J., Moran, C., Iriarte, A., Faircloth, B.C., McCormack, J., Burgess, S.C., Edwards, S.V., Janes, D.E:, Lyons, E., Williams, C., Breen, M., Gresham, C.R., Peterson, D.G., Pollock, D.D., Zhang, G., Irie, N., Jarvis, E.D., Schmidt, C.J., McCarthy, F.M., Hoffmann, F.G., Glenn, T.C:, Gabaldon, T., Patton, B., Ray, D.A. The genomes of three crocodilians provide insight into Archosaur evolution. Science. 2014. 346:


Nery, M.F. Arroyo, J.I. & Opazo, J.C. Increased rate of keratin gene loss in the cetacean lineage. BMC Genomics. 2014. 15:869.


Zhang, G., Li, C., Li, Q., Li, B., Larkin, D.M., Lee, C., Storz, J.F., Antunes, A., Meredith, R.W., Odeen, A., Cui, J., Zhou, Q., Xu, L., Pan, H., Wang, Z., Jin, L., Zhang, P., Hu, H., Yang, W., Hu, J., Xiao, J., Yang, Z., Liu, Y., Xie, Q., Lian, J., Wen, P., Zhang, F., Li, H., Zeng, Y., Xiong, Z., Liu, S., Zhou, L., Huang, Z., An, N., Wang, J., Zheng, Q., Xiong, Y., Wang, G., Wang, B., Wang, J., Fang, Y., Fonseca, R., Alfaro-Nunez, A., Schubert, M., Orlando, L., Mourier, T., Howard, J., Ganapathy, G., Smith, J., Farre, M., Narayan, J., Slavov, G., Romanov, M.N., Borges, R., Machado, J.P., Khan, I., Springer, M.S., Gatesy, J., Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C., Hastad, O., Greenwold, M.J., Sawyer, R.H., Kim, H., Kim, K.W., Li, N., Huang, Y., Bruford, M.W., Zhan, X., Dixon, A., Bertelsen, M., Derryberry, E., Warren, W., Li, S., Ray, D.A., Green, R.E., O Brien, S.J., Griffin, D., Johnson, W.E., Haussler, D., Ryder, O.A., Willerslev, E., Graves, G., Alstrom, P., Fjeldsa, J., Mindell, D., Edwards, S.V., Braun, E.L., Rahbek, C., Burt, D.W., Houde, P., Zhang, Y., Yang, H., Wang, J., Jarvis, E.D., Gilbert, M.T.P., Wang, J., & Avian Genome Consortium. Comparative genomics reveals insights into avian genome evolution and adaptation. Science. 2014. 346:1311-1320.


Lessa, E.P., Cook, J.A., D'Elia, G., Opazo, J.C. Rodent diversity in South America: transitioning into the genomics era. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 2014. 2:39


Giorello, F.M., Feijoo, M., D'Elia, G., Valdez, L., Opazo, J.C., Varas, V., Naya, D.E., Lessa, E.P. Characterization of the kidney transcriptome of the South American olive mouse Abrothrix olivacea. BMC Genomics. 2014. 15:446.


Arroyo, J.I., Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Evolution of the relaxin/insulin-like gene family in anthropoid primates. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2014. 6: 491-499.


Nery, M.F. Arroyo, J.I. & Opazo, J.C. Genomic organization and differential signature of positive selection in the alpha and beta globin gene clusters in two cetacean species. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2013. 5: 2359-2367.


Gaitan-Espitia, J.D., Nespolo, R.F. Opazo J.C. The complete mitochondrial genome of the land snail Cornu aspersum (Helicidae: Mollusca): intra-specific divergence of protein-coding genes and phylogenetic considerations within Euthyneura. PLoS One. 2013. 8(6):e67299


Nery, M.F. Arroyo, J.I. & Opazo, J.C. Accelerated evolutionary rate of the myoglobin gene in long-diving whales. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2013. 76: 380-387.


Opazo, J.C., Butts, G.T., Nery, M.F., Storz, J.F. & Hoffmann, F.G. Whole-genome duplication and the functional diversification of teleost fish hemoglobins. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2013. 30: 140-153.


Nery, M.F., Gonzalez, D.J. & Opazo, J.C. How to make a dolphin: molecular signature of positive selection in cetacean genome. PLoS One. 2013. 8(6):e65491.


Storz, J.F., Opazo, J.C. & Hoffmann, F.G. Gene duplication, genome duplication, and the functional diversification of vertebrate globins. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2013. 66: 469-478.


Arroyo, J.I., Hoffmann, F.G. Good, S. & Opazo, J.C. INSL4 pseudogenes help define the relaxin family repertoire in the common ancestor of placental mammals. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2012. 75: 73-78.


Barnett, A.A, Pinto, L.P., Bicca-Marques, J.C., Ferrari, S.F., Gordo, M., Guedes, P.G., Lopes, M.A., Opazo, J.C., Port-Carvalho, M., Rodrigues dos Santos, R., Soares, R.F., Spironello, W.R., Veiga, L.M., Martins Vieira, T. & Boyle, S.A. A proposal for the common names for species of Chiropotes (Pitheciinae: Primates). Zootaxa. 2012. 3507: 79-83.


Nery, M.F., Gonzalez, D.J., Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Resolution of the laurasiatherian phylogeny: evidence from genomic data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2012. 64: 685-689.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C., Hoogewijs, D., Hankeln, T., Ebner, B., Vinogradov, S. & Storz, J.F. Evolution of the globin gene family in deuterostomes: Lineage-specific patterns of diversification and attrition. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2012. 29: 1735-1745.


Arroyo, J.I., Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Gene turnover and differential retention in the relaxin/insulin-like gene family in primates. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2012. 63: 768-776. Selected by Global Medical Discovery.


Arroyo, J.I., Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Gene duplication and positive selection explains unusual physiological roles of the relaxin gene in the European rabbit. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2012. 74: 52-60.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. Whole-genome duplications spurred the functional diversification of the globin gene superfamily in vertebrates. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2012. 29: 303-312. Selected by Faculty of 1000.


Pierron, D., Opazo, J.C., Heiske, M., Papper, Z., Uddin, M., Chand, G., Wildman, D.E., Romero, R., Goodman, M. & Grossman, L.I. Silencing, positive selection and parallel evolution: busy history of primate cytochromes c. PLoS One. 2011. 6(10): e26269.


Nespolo, R.F., Bacigalupe, L.D., Figueroa, C.C. Koteja, P. & Opazo, J.C. Using new tools to solve an old problem: the evolution of endothermy in vertebrates. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 2011. 26: 414-423.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. Differential Loss and Retention of Cytoglobin, Myoglobin, and Globin-E during the Radiation of Vertebrates. Genome Biology and Evolution. 2011. 3: 588-600.


Hoffmann, F.G. & Opazo, J.C. Evolution of the relaxin/insulin-like gene family in placental mammals: implications for its early evolution. Journal of Molecular Evolution. 2011. 72: 72-79.


Storz, J.F., Opazo, J.C. & Hoffmann, F.G. Phylogenetic diversification of the globin gene superfamily in chordates. IUBMB Life. 2011. 63: 313-322.


Storz, J.F., Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C., Sanger, T.J. & Moriyama, H. Developmental regulation of hemoglobin synthesis in the green anole lizard, Anolis carolinensis. Journal of Experimental Biology. 2011. 214: 575-581.


Hoffmann, F.G., Storz, J.F., Gorr, T.A. & Opazo, J.C. Lineage-specific patterns of functional diversification in the alpha- and beta-globin gene families of tetrapod vertebrates. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2010. 27: 1126-1138.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. Gene co-option and convergent evolution of oxygen-transport hemoglobins in jawed and jawless vertebrates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2010. 107: 14274-14279. Selected by Faculty of 1000.


Gering, E.J., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. Molecular evolution of cytochrome b in high- and low-altitude deer mice (genus Peromyscus). Heredity. 2009. 102: 226-235.


Opazo, J.C., Sloan, A.M., Campbell, K.L. & Storz, J.F. Origin and Ascendancy of a Chimeric Fusion Gene: the beta/delta-Globin Gene of Paenungulate Mammals. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2009. 26: 1469-1478.


Wildman, D.E., Jameson, N.M., Opazo, J.C. & Yi, S.V. A fully resolved genus level phylogeny of neotropical primates (Platyrrhini). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2009. 53: 694-702.


Uddin, M., Opazo, J.C., Wildman, D.E., Sherwood, C.C., Hof, P.R., Goodman, M. & Grossman, L.I. Molecular evolution of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit VA gene in primates. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 2008. 8:8.


Opazo, J.C., Hoffmann, F.G. & Storz, J.F. Genomic evidence for independent origins of beta like globin genes in monotremes and therian mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2008. 105: 1590-1595.


Uddin, M., Goodman, M., Erez, O., Romero, R., Liu, G., Islam, M., Opazo, J.C., Sherwood, C.C., Grossman, L.I. & Wildman, D.E. Distinct genomic signatures of adaptation in pre- and post-natal environments during human evolution. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2008. 105: 3215-3220.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. Rapid rates of lineage-specific gene duplications and deletion in the alpha-globin gene family. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2008. 25: 591-602.


Chen, C., Opazo, J.C., Erez, O., Uddin, M., Santolaya-Forgas, J., Goodman, M., Grossman, L.I., Romero, R. & Wildman, D.E. The human progesterone receptor shows evidence of adaptive evolution associated with its ability to act as a transcription factor. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2008. 47: 637-649.


Storz, J.F., Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Moriyama, H. Adaptive functional divergence among triplicated alpha-globin genes in rodents. Genetics. 2008. 178: 1623-1638.


Opazo, J.C., Bugueno, M., Carter, M.J., Palma, R.E. & Bozinovic, F. Phylogeography of the subterranean rodent Spalacopus cyanus (Caviomorpha, Octodontidae). Journal of Mammalogy. 2008. 89: 837-844.


Opazo, J.C., Hoffmann, F.G. & Storz, J.F. Differential loss of embryonic globin genes during the radiation of placental mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2008. 105: 12950-12955.


Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Storz, J.F. New Genes Originated via Multiple Pathways in the beta-Globin Gene Family of Rodents. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2008. 25: 2589-2600.


Wildman, D.E., Uddin, M., Opazo, J.C., Liu, G., Lefort, V., Gascuel, O., Grossman, L.I., Romero, R. & Goodman, M. Genomics, biogeography, and the diversification of placental mammals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2007. 104: 14395-14400.


Storz, J.F., Baze, M., Waite, J.L., Hoffmann, F.G., Opazo, J.C. & Hayes, J.P. Complex signatures of selection and gene conversion in the duplicated globin genes of house mice. Genetics. 2007. 177: 481-500.


Opazo, J.C., Wildman, D.E., Prychitko, T., Johnson, R.M. & Goodman, M. Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times among New World Monkeys (Platyrrhini, Primates). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2006. 40: 274-280.


Opazo, J.C., Palma, R.E., Melo, F. & Lessa, E.P. Adaptive evolution of the insulin gene in caviomorph rodents. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 2005. 22: 1290-1298.


Schmidt, T.R., Wildman, D.E., Uddin, M., Opazo, J.C., Goodman, M. & Grossman, L.I. Rapid electrostatic evolution at the binding site for cytochrome c on cytochrome c oxidase in anthropoid primates. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. 2005. 102: 6379-6384.


Opazo, J.C. A Molecular timescale for caviomorph rodents (Mammalia, Hystricognathi). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2005. 37: 932-937.


Opazo, J.C., Soto-Gamboa, M. & Fernandez, M.J. Cell size and basal metabolic rate in hummingbirds. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural. 2005. 78: 261-265.


Opazo J.C., Soto-Gamboa M. & Bozinovic F. Blood glucose concentration in caviomorph rodents. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 2004. 137A: 57-64.


Bacigalupe L.D., Nespolo R.F., Opazo J.C. & Bozinovic F. Phenotypic flexibility in a novel thermal environment: Phylogenetic inertia in thermogenic capacity and evolutionary adaptation in organ size. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology. 2004. 77: 805-815.


Nespolo R.F., Opazo J.C. & Bozinovic F. Thermal acclimation and non-shivering thermogenesis in three species of south american of rodents: A comparison between arid and mesic habitats. Journal of Arid Environments. 2001. 48: 581-590.


Opazo J.C., Nespolo R.F. & Bozinovic F. Arousal from Torpor in the Chilean mouse-opposum (Thylamys elegans): Does nonshivering thermogenesis play a role? Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. 1999. 123A: 393-397.


Nespolo R.F., Opazo J.C., Rosenmann M. & Bozinovic F. Thermal acclimation, maximum metabolic rate and nonshivering thermogenesis in Phyllotys xanthopygus (Rodentia) inhabiting the andean range. Journal of Mammalogy. 1999. 80: 742-748.