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_7WKHXG	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	F12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_80WSTV	Orcinus orca	C16orf90	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_8AJYNF	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ADH4	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_8DO20U	Tursiops truncatus	C12orf56	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_8SLRCI	Orcinus orca	PPP3R2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_8SQCHP	Physeter catodon	AGBL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_9CXEPM	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	CYP4X1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_9GOU2X	Physeter catodon	SPINK7	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_9JNJQD	Orcinus orca	TREM1	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_9LMEGA	Tursiops truncatus	IL31RA	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671