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_5HLSFH	Physeter catodon	SLC4A9	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_62JZAG	Orcinus orca	HSD17B11	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_6AKY2M	Orcinus orca	ADH4	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_6PLD3K	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	IQCA1L	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_6Y6UVJ	Physeter catodon	ACSM3	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_6ZAGRM	Tursiops truncatus	ANXA9	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_735PRK	Orcinus orca	PGLYRP1	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_7OEDZE	Orcinus orca	SERPINB7	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_7RWONT	Orcinus orca	FAM149A	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_7SFZAC	Orcinus orca	FABP12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671