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_BTAUW5	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	SLC6A18	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_C0IKRW	Physeter catodon	C12orf56	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_C138BS	Orcinus orca	LYPD5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_C5PU2Y	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	C16orf90	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_C6QBO1	Physeter catodon	FABP12	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_C8HV27	Tursiops truncatus	LYPD5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_CIRO8L	Physeter catodon	PGLYRP3	Exon(s) deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_CMGYA8	Physeter catodon	SLC28A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_CYINSY	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	ATP13A5	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_D3TKZM	Tursiops truncatus	PGLYRP4	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671