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_PZDSTY	Tursiops truncatus	SEC14L3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QBSQ45	Orcinus orca	F12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QBZOKU	Tursiops truncatus	MS4A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QILEIK	Orcinus orca	TMPRSS11F	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QKTOD5	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	FCGR1A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QPQM9E	Orcinus orca	IRGC	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QPZZAW	Physeter catodon	SEC14L3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QTVPPT	Tursiops truncatus	THRSP	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QVYECJ	Tursiops truncatus	AGBL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QWERR5	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	PTGR1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671