Gene Loss

Publication Details

Identifier: JB_OA6CC8

Curator: Raul Valente

Title:

The dopamine receptor D gene shows signs of independent erosion in toothed and baleen whales.

Abstract:

To compare gene loci considering a phylogenetic framework is a promising approach to uncover the genetic basis of human diseases. Imbalance of dopaminergic systems is suspected to underlie some emerging neurological disorders. The physiological functions of dopamine are transduced via G-protein-coupled receptors, including DRD which displays a relatively higher affinity toward dopamine. Importantly, DRD knockout mice are hypertense, a condition emerging from an increase in sympathetic tone. We investigated the evolution of DRD, a high affinity receptor for dopamine, in mammals. Surprisingly, among 124 investigated mammalian genomes, we found that Cetacea lineages (Mysticeti and Odontoceti) have independently lost this gene, as well as the burrowing (Cape golden mole). We suggest that DRD inactivation parallels hypoxia-induced adaptations, such as peripheral vasoconstriction required for deep-diving in Cetacea, in accordance with the convergent evolution of vasoconstrictor genes in hypoxia-exposed animals. Our findings indicate that Cetacea are natural knockouts for DRD and might offer valuable insights into the mechanisms of some forms of vasoconstriction responses and hypertension in humans.

Last update:

17-04-2024

Associated Glosses (14 results)

GlossID	Species	Symbol	Gene Loss Mechanism	Loss Type	Lineage Specific	Citation
GL_QU067Y	Neophocaena asiaeorientalis	DRD5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.7717/peerj.7758
GL_RLG366	Ochotona princeps	DRD5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Polymorphic	No	10.7717/peerj.7758
GL_WQLVCT	Chrysochloris asiatica	DRD5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	No	10.7717/peerj.7758
GL_YOGLFI	Balaenoptera bonaerensis	DRD5	LOF (frameshift, premature stop, ss)	Full	Cetacea	10.7717/peerj.7758