Title | Minke whale genome and aquatic adaptation in cetaceans |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2014 |
Authors | Yim H.S, Cho Y.S, Guang X.M, Kang S.G, Jeong J.Y, Cha S.S, Oh H.M, Lee J.H, Yang E.C, Kwon K.K, Kim Y.J, Kim T.W, Kim W., Jeon J.H, Kim S.J, Choi D.H, Jho S., Kim H.M, Ko J., Kim H, Shin Y.A, Jung H.J, Zheng Y., Wang Z, Chen Y., Chen M., Jiang A.W, Li E.L, Zhang S., Hou H.L, Kim T.H, Yu L.L, Liu S, Ahn K., Cooper J., Park S.G, Hong C.P, Jin W., Kim H.S, Park C., Lee K., Chun S., Morin PA, O'Brien S.J, Lee H., Kimura J., Moon D.Y, Manica A., Edwards J., Kim B.C, Kim S, Wang J., Bhak J., Lee H.S, Lee J.H |
Journal | Nature Genetics |
Volume | 46 |
Pagination | 88-+ |
Date Published | 2014/01 |
Type of Article | Article |
ISBN Number | 1061-4036 |
Accession Number | WOS:000329113500019 |
Keywords | alignment; database; genes; identification; maximum-likelihood; protein families; rna-seq; sequences; stress; tursiops-truncatus |
Abstract | The shift from terrestrial to aquatic life by whales was a substantial evolutionary event. Here we report the whole-genome sequencing and de novo assembly of the minke whale genome, as well as the whole-genome sequences of three minke whales, a fin whale, a bottlenose dolphin and a finless porpoise. Our comparative genomic analysis identified an expansion in the whale lineage of gene families associated with stress-responsive proteins and anaerobic metabolism, whereas gene families related to body hair and sensory receptors were contracted. Our analysis also identified whale-specific mutations in genes encoding antioxidants and enzymes controlling blood pressure and salt concentration. Overall the whale-genome sequences exhibited distinct features that are associated with the physiological and morphological changes needed for life in an aquatic environment, marked by resistance to physiological stresses caused by a lack of oxygen, increased amounts of reactive oxygen species and high salt levels. |
DOI | 10.1038/ng.2835 |
Short Title | Nature Genet. |