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_WPWZPM	Physeter catodon	ARHGAP8	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WQVXTW	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	AGBL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WSTY66	Orcinus orca	ASIC5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WVE9T1	Physeter catodon	PGLYRP4	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WVJZC8	Orcinus orca	FFAR3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WVVRQP	Orcinus orca	ACSM3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WXUNTY	Physeter catodon	AADACL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_WY8VL6	Orcinus orca	SERPINB12	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_X5PHWT	Physeter catodon	TGM6	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_X9ZILC	Orcinus orca	SLC28A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671