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_FHQ802	Physeter catodon	PPP3R2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FJQZNS	Physeter catodon	LYPD2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FNHQC1	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	PGLYRP3	Exon(s) deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FNWXUD	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ARHGAP8	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FQTWYQ	Tursiops truncatus	ATP13A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FQWDU8	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ITPRID1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FUA5BF	Orcinus orca	SEC14L3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_FZFO2K	Orcinus orca	ADGRG7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_G0VI9X	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ACP7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_G2MJ0Z	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ECT2L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671