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_KYD97V	Physeter catodon	FAM149A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LCFH1M	Physeter catodon	TRIM14	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LIDJMO	Tursiops truncatus	SERPINB12	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LLQRUN	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	THRSP	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LMY0N6	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	DEFB134	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LRHMLU	Orcinus orca	CYP4X1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LTHJDB	Physeter catodon	CYP4X1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LUZUJ7	Tursiops truncatus	TRIM14	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LWH8DS	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	DNAJC22	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_LXYBVX	Physeter catodon	F12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671