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_TRATHR	Tursiops truncatus	TGM6	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_TYFGAK	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	HSD17B11	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_U5Z21Z	Tursiops truncatus	SLC28A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_U8AHKQ	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	SERPINB7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_UGEHGY	Orcinus orca	TGM6	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_ULHU9J	Orcinus orca	THRSP	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_UNYI7F	Orcinus orca	IQCA1L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_UOBYVJ	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	SPMIP5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_UONPFL	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	CPA4	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_URTRLW	Physeter catodon	IL31RA	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671