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_2QCSTM	Physeter catodon	REG4	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_2SONQX	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ACSM3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_2TJWQE	Orcinus orca	AADACL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_2WVICP	Tursiops truncatus	AADACL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_3BXWAT	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ADGRG7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_3YEKLW	Physeter catodon	ACP7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_43X5RG	Orcinus orca	WDR49	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_4BEZX4	Tursiops truncatus	LYPD2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_4UKMZP	Orcinus orca	SPMIP5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_5CWHKA	Tursiops truncatus	FABP12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671