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_UVESKX	Tursiops truncatus	SLC6A18	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_UZAMN3	Physeter catodon	HERC6	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_V7IRZG	Tursiops truncatus	DEFB134	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_VGFCHE	Tursiops truncatus	CAPN13	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_VZ32UZ	Orcinus orca	KLKB1	Exon(s) deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WDXIMZ	Tursiops truncatus	SPINK7	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WE7BJU	Physeter catodon	TAS1R3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WIFRFU	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	MAP3K19	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WIL54H	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	TAS1R3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WKW3MU	Tursiops truncatus	TMPRSS11F	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671