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_IAI08O	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	SLC28A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_IKYVSJ	Physeter catodon	ANXA9	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_ISHGR3	Physeter catodon	ADGRG7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_IYJALS	Physeter catodon	GLYATL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_IZE3PW	Tursiops truncatus	CYP4X1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_IZPRP1	Physeter catodon	IRGC	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_J1LN4K	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	C12orf56	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_J6AQKB	Orcinus orca	ANKZF1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_JC9M38	Orcinus orca	HERC6	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_JEOKRE	Orcinus orca	ITPRID1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671