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_M7HHKI	Physeter catodon	ATP13A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MAJ0GZ	Physeter catodon	FFAR3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MAJUCQ	Tursiops truncatus	TRIM34	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MCDYPB	Tursiops truncatus	SLC4A9	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MGWSFI	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	FAM149A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MOG5QP	Tursiops truncatus	MSS51	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_MVTB3J	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ANKZF1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_N80DMF	Orcinus orca	DNAJC22	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_N9QXNF	Physeter catodon	CTBS	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_NB2YRB	Orcinus orca	C1orf105	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671