Gene Loss

Publication Details

Identifier: JB_HOG2PS

Curator: M. Lopes-Marques

DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x

PMID: 36443512

Title:

Birth-and-death evolution of ribonuclease 9 genes in Cetartiodactyla.

Abstract:

RNase9 plays a reproductive function and has been recognized as an important member of the ribonuclease (RNase) A superfamily, a gene family that is widely used as a model for molecular evolutionary studies. Here, we identified 178 RNase9 genes from 95 Cetartiodactyla species that represent all four lineages and 21 families of this clade. Unexpectedly, RNase9 experienced an evolutionary scenario of "birth and death" in Ruminantia, and expression analyses showed that duplicated RNase9A and RNase9B genes are expressed in reproductive tissues (epididymis, vas deferens or prostate). This expression pattern combined with the estimate that these genes duplicated during the middle Eocene, a time when Ruminantia become a successful lineage, suggests that the RNase9 gene duplication might have been advantageous for promoting sperm motility and male fertility as an adaptation to climate seasonality changes of this period. In contrast, all RNase9 genes were lost in the Cetacean lineage, which might be associated with their high levels of prostatic lesions and lower reproductive rates as adaptations to a fully aquatic environment and a balance to the demands of ocean resources. This study reveals a complex and intriguing evolutionary history and functional divergence for RNase9 in Cetartiodactyla, providing new insights into the evolution of the RNaseA superfamily and molecular mechanisms for organismal adaptations to the environment.

Last update:

06-01-2025

Associated Glosses (59 results)

GlossID	Species	Symbol	Gene Loss Mechanism	Loss Type	Lineage Specific	Citation
GL_V2PSTM	Kogia breviceps	RNASE12	Other	Full	No	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_VK42BW	Eubalaena japonica	RNASE9	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_WKH59X	Lagenorhynchus obliquidens	RNASE11	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_XLCLB8	Balaenoptera physalus	RNASE11	Other	Full	No	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_XRMXOC	Balaenoptera physalus	RNASE9	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_Y0LU8W	Eschrichtius robustus	RNASE11	Gene deletion	Full	No	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_YPVLR7	Balaenoptera musculus	RNASE9	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_ZJNF4S	Eubalaena japonica	RNASE11	Other	Full	No	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x
GL_ZZFYKN	Physeter catodon	RNASE9	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x