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_DAZJLS	Orcinus orca	CPA4	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DAZQYW	Tursiops truncatus	QRFPR	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DF766P	Tursiops truncatus	SPMIP5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DINOOR	Orcinus orca	C12orf56	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DPK0UT	Orcinus orca	GLYATL3	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DU1MUA	Balaenoptera acutorostrata	PGLYRP4	Gene deletion	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DVTGZT	Orcinus orca	SLC47A1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DWVR0A	Tursiops truncatus	MGST2	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DYKVXB	Trichechus manatus	SLC4A9	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	No	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671
GL_DZJCTG	Tursiops truncatus	PTGR1	Other	Full	Cetacea	10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671