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_RRQ5DG	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	LYPD2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_RWWGLT	Tursiops truncatus	KLKB1	Exon(s) deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_S0IED0	Tursiops truncatus	POLM	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SC8LEP	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	LYPD5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SEUKJL	Tursiops truncatus	C1orf105	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SHMMSN	Orcinus orca	SLC4A9	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SKCIUH	Tursiops truncatus	FAM149A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SR9IJA	Physeter catodon	POLM	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_SRGM5C	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	MS4A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_ST4IOF	Tursiops truncatus	MAP3K19	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671