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_OOCNV4	Tursiops truncatus	ACP7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_OQ9FG4	Tursiops truncatus	ANKZF1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_ORS7UM	Tursiops truncatus	F12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_OUSCIS	Tursiops truncatus	ECT2L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_OZ5Z7Y	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	IL31RA	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_OZUZRA	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	AADACL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_P1OBEX	Tursiops truncatus	GLYATL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_PQJCIL	Tursiops truncatus	C16orf90	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_PQTXXE	Tursiops truncatus	ADH4	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_PQVRD5	Orcinus orca	CAPN13	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671