Gene Loss

Publication Details

Identifier: JB_NQODVS

Curator: M. Lopes-Marques

Title:

Genes lost during the transition from land to water in cetaceans highlight genomic changes associated with aquatic adaptations.

Abstract:

The transition from land to water in whales and dolphins (cetaceans) was accompanied by remarkable adaptations. To reveal genomic changes that occurred during this transition, we screened for protein-coding genes that were inactivated in the ancestral cetacean lineage. We found 85 gene losses. Some of these were likely beneficial for cetaceans, for example, by reducing the risk of thrombus formation during diving (F12 and KLKB1), erroneous DNA damage repair (POLM), and oxidative stress-induced lung inflammation (MAP3K19). Additional gene losses may reflect other diving-related adaptations, such as enhanced vasoconstriction during the diving response (mediated by SLC6A18) and altered pulmonary surfactant composition (SEC14L3), while loss of SLC4A9 relates to a reduced need for saliva. Last, loss of melatonin synthesis and receptor genes (AANAT, ASMT, and MTNR1A/B) may have been a precondition for adopting unihemispheric sleep. Our findings suggest that some genes lost in ancestral cetaceans were likely involved in adapting to a fully aquatic lifestyle.

Last update:

23-07-2024

Associated Glosses (266 results)

GlossID	Species	Symbol	Gene Loss Mechanism	Loss Type	Lineage Specific	Citation
GL_05ZEKU	Physeter catodon	SERPINB7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_08ZCI3	Physeter catodon	ECT2L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_0LSIE1	Physeter catodon	THRSP	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_0U93VU	Tursiops truncatus	IRGC	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_0XPCAM	Physeter catodon	MSS51	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_1UUG3S	Physeter catodon	KLKB1	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_21OXRF	Orcinus orca	POLM	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_27IPNS	Orcinus orca	TAS1R3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_2F3LEZ	Orcinus orca	PGLYRP4	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_2GG0TW	Orcinus orca	ECT2L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671