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_QWSHL6	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	KLKB1	Exon(s) deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QXBATM	Physeter catodon	SLC47A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QXQBMI	Orcinus orca	ARHGAP8	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_QXZ43A	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	SEC14L3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_R3B4GQ	Physeter catodon	CPA4	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_R9N1XL	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	WDR49	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_R9TLRZ	Orcinus orca	MS4A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_RGJEEH	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	POLM	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_RM3OAN	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	FMO1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_RP1YFK	Physeter catodon	FCGR1A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671