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Selleghin-Veiga G, Magpali L, Picorelli A, Silva FA, Ramos E, Nery MF. Breathing Air and Living Underwater: Molecular Evolution of Genes Related to Antioxidant Response in Cetaceans and Pinnipeds. J Mol Evol 2024; 92:300-316. [PMID: 38735005 DOI: 10.1007/s00239-024-10170-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Cetaceans and pinnipeds are lineages of mammals that have independently returned to the aquatic environment, acquiring varying degrees of dependence on it while sharing adaptations for underwater living. Here, we focused on one critical adaptation from both groups, their ability to withstand the ischemia and reperfusion experienced during apnea diving, which can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent oxidative damage. Previous studies have shown that cetaceans and pinnipeds possess efficient antioxidant enzymes that protect against ROS. In this study, we investigated the molecular evolution of key antioxidant enzyme genes (CAT, GPX3, GSR, PRDX1, PRDX3, and SOD1) and the ROS-producing gene XDH, in cetaceans and pinnipeds lineages. We used the ratio of non-synonymous (dN) to synonymous (dS) substitutions as a measure to identify signatures of adaptive molecular evolution in these genes within and between the two lineages. Additionally, we performed protein modeling and variant impact analyzes to assess the functional consequences of observed mutations. Our findings revealed distinct selective regimes between aquatic and terrestrial mammals in five of the examined genes, including divergences within cetacean and pinniped lineages, between ancestral and recent lineages and between crowns groups. We identified specific sites under positive selection unique to Cetacea and Pinnipedia, with one site showing evidence of convergent evolution in species known for their long and deep-diving capacities. Notably, many sites under adaptive selection exhibited radical changes in amino acid properties, with some being damaging mutations in human variations, but with no apparent detrimental impacts on aquatic mammals. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the adaptive changes that have occurred in the antioxidant systems of aquatic mammals throughout their evolutionary history. We observed both distinctive features within each group of Cetacea and Pinnipedia and instances of convergence. These findings highlight the dynamic nature of the antioxidant system in response to challenges of the aquatic environment and provide a foundation for further investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Selleghin-Veiga
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Letícia Magpali
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Agnello Picorelli
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Felipe A Silva
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Elisa Ramos
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
- Zoological Institute, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Mariana F Nery
- Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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Wang QP, Luo CY, Xu XH, Hu WX, Gai YL, Gong YJ, Mu Y. Adaptive evolution of antioxidase-related genes in hypoxia-tolerant mammals. Front Genet 2024; 15:1315677. [PMID: 38725483 PMCID: PMC11079137 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1315677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
To cope with the damage from oxidative stress caused by hypoxia, mammals have evolved a series of physiological and biochemical traits, including antioxidant ability. Although numerous research studies about the mechanisms of hypoxia evolution have been reported, the molecular mechanisms of antioxidase-related genes in mammals living in different environments are yet to be completely understood. In this study, we constructed a dataset comprising 7 antioxidase-related genes (CAT, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, GPX1, GPX2, and GPX3) from 43 mammalian species to implement evolutionary analysis. The results showed that six genes (CAT, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, GPX1, and GPX3) have undergone divergent evolution based on the free-ratio (M1) model. Furthermore, multi-ratio model analyses uncovered the divergent evolution between hypoxic and non-hypoxic lineages, as well as various hypoxic lineages. In addition, the branch-site model identified 9 positively selected branches in 6 genes (CAT, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, GPX2, and GPX3) that contained 35 positively selected sites, among which 31 positively selected sites were identified in hypoxia-tolerant branches, accounting for 89% of the total number of positively selected sites. Interestingly, 65 parallel/convergent sites were identified in the 7 genes. In summary, antioxidase-related genes are subjected to different selective pressures among hypoxia-tolerant species living in different habitats. This study provides a valuable insight into the molecular evolution of antioxidase-related genes in hypoxia evolution in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Ping Wang
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Chao-Yang Luo
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiong-Hui Xu
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Wen-Xian Hu
- Erhai Watershed Ecological Environment Quality Testing Engineering Research Center of Yunnan Provincial Universities, Erhai Research Institute, West Yunnan University of Applied Sciences, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Yu-Lin Gai
- Colledge of Life Science, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
| | - You-Jing Gong
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
- The Provincial Innovation Team of Biodiversity Conservation and Utility of the Three Parallel Rivers Region from Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuan Mu
- Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
- The Provincial Innovation Team of Biodiversity Conservation and Utility of the Three Parallel Rivers Region from Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
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3
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Pratt EAL, Beheregaray LB, Fruet P, Tezanos-Pinto G, Bilgmann K, Zanardo N, Diaz-Aguirre F, Secchi ER, Freitas TRO, Möller LM. Genomic Divergence and the Evolution of Ecotypes in Bottlenose Dolphins (Genus Tursiops). Genome Biol Evol 2023; 15:evad199. [PMID: 37935115 PMCID: PMC10655200 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evad199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Climatic changes have caused major environmental restructuring throughout the world's oceans. Marine organisms have responded to novel conditions through various biological systems, including genomic adaptation. Growing accessibility of next-generation DNA sequencing methods to study nonmodel species has recently allowed genomic changes underlying environmental adaptations to be investigated. This study used double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequence data to investigate the genomic basis of ecotype formation across currently recognized species and subspecies of bottlenose dolphins (genus Tursiops) in the Southern Hemisphere. Subspecies-level genomic divergence was confirmed between the offshore common bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus truncatus) and the inshore Lahille's bottlenose dolphin (T. t. gephyreus) from the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWAO). Similarly, subspecies-level divergence is suggested between inshore (eastern Australia) Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (T. aduncus) and the proposed Burrunan dolphin (T. australis) from southern Australia. Inshore bottlenose dolphin lineages generally had lower genomic diversity than offshore lineages, a pattern particularly evident for T. t. gephyreus, which showed exceptionally low diversity. Genomic regions associated with cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and energy production systems appear to have undergone repeated adaptive evolution in inshore lineages across the Southern Hemisphere. We hypothesize that comparable selective pressures in the inshore environment drove similar adaptive responses in each lineage, supporting parallel evolution of inshore bottlenose dolphins. With climate change altering marine ecosystems worldwide, it is crucial to gain an understanding of the adaptive capacity of local species and populations. Our study provides insights into key adaptive pathways that may be important for the long-term survival of cetaceans and other organisms in a changing marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor A L Pratt
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Luciano B Beheregaray
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Pedro Fruet
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
- Museu Oceanográfico Prof. Eliézer de C. Rios, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
- Kaosa, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | | | - Kerstin Bilgmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nikki Zanardo
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Environment and Water, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Fernando Diaz-Aguirre
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Eduardo R Secchi
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação da Megafauna Marinha (ECOMEGA), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
- Museu Oceanográfico Prof. Eliézer de C. Rios, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
| | - Thales R O Freitas
- Laboratório de Citogenética e Evolução, Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Luciana M Möller
- Molecular Ecology Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Cetacean Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution Laboratory, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
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Martínez Sosa F, Pilot M. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Vertebrate Adaptive Evolution: A Systematic Review. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:416. [PMID: 36833343 PMCID: PMC9957108 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive evolution is a process in which variation that confers an evolutionary advantage in a specific environmental context arises and is propagated through a population. When investigating this process, researchers have mainly focused on describing advantageous phenotypes or putative advantageous genotypes. A recent increase in molecular data accessibility and technological advances has allowed researchers to go beyond description and to make inferences about the mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution. In this systematic review, we discuss articles from 2016 to 2022 that investigated or reviewed the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution in vertebrates in response to environmental variation. Regulatory elements within the genome and regulatory proteins involved in either gene expression or cellular pathways have been shown to play key roles in adaptive evolution in response to most of the discussed environmental factors. Gene losses were suggested to be associated with an adaptive response in some contexts. Future adaptive evolution research could benefit from more investigations focused on noncoding regions of the genome, gene regulation mechanisms, and gene losses potentially yielding advantageous phenotypes. Investigating how novel advantageous genotypes are conserved could also contribute to our knowledge of adaptive evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Małgorzata Pilot
- Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 80-680 Gdańsk, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland
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Yu JJ, Non AL, Heinrich EC, Gu W, Alcock J, Moya EA, Lawrence ES, Tift MS, O'Brien KA, Storz JF, Signore AV, Khudyakov JI, Milsom WK, Wilson SM, Beall CM, Villafuerte FC, Stobdan T, Julian CG, Moore LG, Fuster MM, Stokes JA, Milner R, West JB, Zhang J, Shyy JY, Childebayeva A, Vázquez-Medina JP, Pham LV, Mesarwi OA, Hall JE, Cheviron ZA, Sieker J, Blood AB, Yuan JX, Scott GR, Rana BK, Ponganis PJ, Malhotra A, Powell FL, Simonson TS. Time Domains of Hypoxia Responses and -Omics Insights. Front Physiol 2022; 13:885295. [PMID: 36035495 PMCID: PMC9400701 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.885295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to respond rapidly to changes in oxygen tension is critical for many forms of life. Challenges to oxygen homeostasis, specifically in the contexts of evolutionary biology and biomedicine, provide important insights into mechanisms of hypoxia adaptation and tolerance. Here we synthesize findings across varying time domains of hypoxia in terms of oxygen delivery, ranging from early animal to modern human evolution and examine the potential impacts of environmental and clinical challenges through emerging multi-omics approaches. We discuss how diverse animal species have adapted to hypoxic environments, how humans vary in their responses to hypoxia (i.e., in the context of high-altitude exposure, cardiopulmonary disease, and sleep apnea), and how findings from each of these fields inform the other and lead to promising new directions in basic and clinical hypoxia research.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Yu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Amy L. Non
- Department of Anthropology, Division of Social Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Erica C. Heinrich
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Wanjun Gu
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Joe Alcock
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, MX, United States
| | - Esteban A. Moya
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Elijah S. Lawrence
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Michael S. Tift
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, United States
| | - Katie A. O'Brien
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, Faculty of Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, ENG, United Kingdom
| | - Jay F. Storz
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, IL, United States
| | - Anthony V. Signore
- School of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, IL, United States
| | - Jane I. Khudyakov
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, United States
| | | | - Sean M. Wilson
- Lawrence D. Longo, MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Colleen G. Julian
- School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Lorna G. Moore
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Mark M. Fuster
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer A. Stokes
- Department of Kinesiology, Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX, United States
| | - Richard Milner
- San Diego Biomedical Research Institute, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - John B. West
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - John Y. Shyy
- Department of Medicine, UC San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Ainash Childebayeva
- Department of Archaeogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - José Pablo Vázquez-Medina
- Department of Integrative Biology, College of Letters and Science, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Luu V. Pham
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Omar A. Mesarwi
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - James E. Hall
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Zachary A. Cheviron
- Division of Biological Sciences, College of Humanities and Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, United States
| | - Jeremy Sieker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Arlin B. Blood
- Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Jason X. Yuan
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Graham R. Scott
- Department of Pediatrics Division of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, United States
| | - Brinda K. Rana
- Moores Cancer Center, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Paul J. Ponganis
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Atul Malhotra
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Frank L. Powell
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Tatum S. Simonson
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Reyes-Ramos CA, Gaxiola-Robles R, Vázquez-Medina JP, Ramírez-Jirano LJ, Bitzer-Quintero OK, Zenteno-Savín T. In silico Characterization of the Heme Oxygenase 1 From Bottlenose Dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus): Evidence of Changes in the Active Site and Purifying Selection. Front Physiol 2021; 12:711645. [PMID: 34456750 PMCID: PMC8388933 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.711645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cetacea is a clade well-adapted to the aquatic lifestyle, with diverse adaptations and physiological responses, as well as a robust antioxidant defense system. Serious injuries caused by boats and fishing nets are common in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); however, these animals do not show signs of serious infections. Evidence suggests an adaptive response to tissue damage and associated infections in cetaceans. Heme oxygenase (HO) is a cytoprotective protein that participates in the anti-inflammatory response. HO catalyzes the first step in the oxidative degradation of the heme group. Various stimuli, including inflammatory mediators, regulate the inducible HO-1 isoform. This study aims to characterize HO-1 of the bottlenose dolphin in silico and compare its structure to the terrestrial mammal protein. Upstream HO-1 sequence of the bottlenose dolphin was obtained from NCBI and Ensemble databases, and the gene structure was determined using bioinformatics tools. Five exons and four introns were identified, and proximal regulatory elements were detected in the upstream region. The presence of 10 α-helices, three 310 helices, the heme group lodged between the proximal and distal helices, and a histidine-25 in the proximal helix serving as a ligand to the heme group were inferred for T. truncatus. Amino acid sequence alignment suggests HO-1 is a conserved protein. The HO-1 "fingerprint" and histidine-25 appear to be fully conserved among all species analyzed. Evidence of positive selection within an α-helix configuration without changes in protein configuration and evidence of purifying selection were found, indicating evolutionary conservation of the coding sequence structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Reyes-Ramos
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, La Paz, Mexico
| | - Ramón Gaxiola-Robles
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, La Paz, Mexico
- Hospital General de Zona No. 1, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, La Paz, Mexico
| | | | - Luis Javier Ramírez-Jirano
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Oscar Kurt Bitzer-Quintero
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Tania Zenteno-Savín
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, S.C. Planeación Ambiental y Conservación, La Paz, Mexico
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7
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Zheng J, Wang J, Gong Z, Han GZ. Molecular fossils illuminate the evolution of retroviruses following a macroevolutionary transition from land to water. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009730. [PMID: 34252162 PMCID: PMC8297934 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ancestor of cetaceans underwent a macroevolutionary transition from land to water early in the Eocene Period >50 million years ago. However, little is known about how diverse retroviruses evolved during this shift from terrestrial to aquatic environments. Did retroviruses transition into water accompanying their hosts? Did retroviruses infect cetaceans through cross-species transmission after cetaceans invaded the aquatic environments? Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) provide important molecular fossils for tracing the evolution of retroviruses during this macroevolutionary transition. Here, we use a phylogenomic approach to study the origin and evolution of ERVs in cetaceans. We identify a total of 8,724 ERVs within the genomes of 25 cetaceans, and phylogenetic analyses suggest these ERVs cluster into 315 independent lineages, each of which represents one or more independent endogenization events. We find that cetacean ERVs originated through two possible routes. 298 ERV lineages may derive from retrovirus endogenization that occurred before or during the transition from land to water of cetaceans, and most of these cetacean ERVs were reaching evolutionary dead-ends. 17 ERV lineages are likely to arise from independent retrovirus endogenization events that occurred after the split of mysticetes and odontocetes, indicating that diverse retroviruses infected cetaceans through cross-species transmission from non-cetacean mammals after the transition to aquatic life of cetaceans. Both integration time and synteny analyses support the recent or ongoing activity of multiple retroviral lineages in cetaceans, some of which proliferated into hundreds of copies within the host genomes. Although ERVs only recorded a proportion of past retroviral infections, our findings illuminate the complex evolution of retroviruses during one of the most marked macroevolutionary transitions in vertebrate history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialu Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhen Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guan-Zhu Han
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
- * E-mail:
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8
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Blawas AM, Ware KE, Schmaltz E, Zheng L, Spruance J, Allen AS, West N, Devos N, Corcoran DL, Nowacek DP, Eward WC, Fahlman A, Somarelli JA. An integrated comparative physiology and molecular approach pinpoints mediators of breath-hold capacity in dolphins. Evol Med Public Health 2021; 9:420-430. [PMID: 35169481 PMCID: PMC8833867 DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background and objectives
Ischemic events, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, are the number one cause of death globally. Ischemia prevents blood, carrying essential nutrients and oxygen, from reaching tissues, leading to cell and tissue death, and eventual organ failure. While humans are relatively intolerant to ischemic events, other species, such as marine mammals, have evolved a unique tolerance to chronic ischemia/reperfusion during apneic diving. To identify possible molecular features of an increased tolerance for apnea, we examined changes in gene expression in breath-holding dolphins.
Methodology
Here, we capitalized on the adaptations possesed by bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for diving as a comparative model of ischemic stress and hypoxia tolerance to identify molecular features associated with breath holding. Given that signals in the blood may influence physiological changes during diving, we used RNA-Seq and enzyme assays to examine time-dependent changes in gene expression in the blood of breath-holding dolphins.
Results
We observed time-dependent upregulation of the arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase (ALOX5) gene and increased lipoxygenase activity during breath holding. ALOX5 has been shown to be activated during hypoxia in rodent models, and its metabolites, leukotrienes, induce vasoconstriction.
Conclusions and implications
The upregulation of ALOX5 mRNA occurred within the calculated aerobic dive limit of the species, suggesting that ALOX5 may play a role in the dolphin’s physiological response to diving, particularly in a pro-inflammatory response to ischemia and in promoting vasoconstriction. These observations pinpoint a potential molecular mechanism by which dolphins, and perhaps other marine mammals, respond to the prolonged breath holds associated with diving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Blawas
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Kathryn E Ware
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Emma Schmaltz
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Larry Zheng
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | - Jacob Spruance
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Austin S Allen
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicolas Devos
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - David L Corcoran
- Duke Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Douglas P Nowacek
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, Beaufort, NC, USA
- Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - William C Eward
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andreas Fahlman
- Global Diving Research, Inc., Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Research Department, Fundación Oceanogrāfic de la Comunitat Valenciana, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jason A Somarelli
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, USA
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9
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Tian R, Geng Y, Yang Y, Seim I, Yang G. Oxidative stress drives divergent evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) gene family in mammals. Integr Zool 2021; 16:696-711. [PMID: 33417299 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The molecular basis for adaptations to extreme environments can now be understood by interrogating the ever-increasing number of sequenced genomes. Mammals such as cetaceans, bats, and highland species can protect themselves from oxidative stress, a disruption in the balance of reactive oxygen species, which results in oxidative injury and cell damage. Here, we consider the evolution of the glutathione peroxidase (GPX) family of antioxidant enzymes by interrogating publicly available genome data from 70 mammalian species from all major clades. We identified 8 GPX subclasses ubiquitous to all mammalian groups. Mammalian GPX gene families resolved into the GPX4/7/8 and GPX1/2/3/5/6 groups and are characterized by several instances of gene duplication and loss, indicating a dynamic process of gene birth and death in mammals. Seven of the eight GPX subfamilies (all but GPX7) were under positive selection, with the residues under selection located at or close to active sites or at the dimer interface. We also reveal evidence of a correlation between ecological niches (e.g. high oxidative stress) and the divergent selection and gene copy number of GPX subclasses. Notably, a convergent expansion of GPX1 was observed in several independent lineages of mammals under oxidative stress and may be important for avoiding oxidative damage. Collectively, this study suggests that the GPX gene family has shaped the adaption of mammals to stressful environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuepan Geng
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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10
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Modes of genetic adaptations underlying functional innovations in the rumen. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 64:1-21. [PMID: 33165812 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1828-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The rumen is the hallmark organ of ruminants and hosts a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms that facilitates efficient digestion of plant fibers. We analyzed 897 transcriptomes from three Cetartiodactyla lineages: ruminants, camels and cetaceans, as well as data from ruminant comparative genomics and functional assays to explore the genetic basis of rumen functional innovations. We identified genes with relatively high expression in the rumen, of which many appeared to be recruited from other tissues. These genes show functional enrichment in ketone body metabolism, regulation of microbial community, and epithelium absorption, which are the most prominent biological processes involved in rumen innovations. Several modes of genetic change underlying rumen functional innovations were uncovered, including coding mutations, genes newly evolved, and changes of regulatory elements. We validated that the key ketogenesis rate-limiting gene (HMGCS2) with five ruminant-specific mutations was under positive selection and exhibits higher synthesis activity than those of other mammals. Two newly evolved genes (LYZ1 and DEFB1) are resistant to Gram-positive bacteria and thereby may regulate microbial community equilibrium. Furthermore, we confirmed that the changes of regulatory elements accounted for the majority of rumen gene recruitment. These results greatly improve our understanding of rumen evolution and organ evo-devo in general.
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11
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Zhang P, Zhao Y, Li C, Lin M, Dong L, Zhang R, Liu M, Li K, Zhang H, Liu X, Zhang Y, Yuan Y, Liu H, Seim I, Sun S, Du X, Chang Y, Li F, Liu S, Lee SMY, Wang K, Wang D, Wang X, McGowen MR, Jefferson TA, Olsen MT, Stiller J, Zhang G, Xu X, Yang H, Fan G, Liu X, Li S. An Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphin Genome Reveals Insights into Chromosome Evolution and the Demography of a Vulnerable Species. iScience 2020; 23:101640. [PMID: 33103078 PMCID: PMC7569330 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) is a small inshore species of odontocete cetacean listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Here, we report on the evolution of S. chinensis chromosomes from its cetruminant ancestor and elucidate the evolutionary history and population genetics of two neighboring S. chinensis populations. We found that breakpoints in ancestral chromosomes leading to S. chinensis could have affected the function of genes related to kidney filtration, body development, and immunity. Resequencing of individuals from two neighboring populations in the northwestern South China Sea, Leizhou Bay and Sanniang Bay, revealed genetic differentiation, low diversity, and small contemporary effective population sizes. Demographic analyses showed a marked decrease in the population size of the two investigated populations over the last ~4,000 years, possibly related to climatic oscillations. This study implies a high risk of extinction and strong conservation requirement for the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Deducing chromosome evolution from ancestral Cetruminantia and ancestral Odontoceti Reconstructing the demographic history of Sousa chinensis Implying high risk of extinction and strong conservation requirement for S. chinensis
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijun Zhang
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Yong Zhao
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Chang Li
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- BGI Education Center, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Mingli Lin
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - Lijun Dong
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Mingzhong Liu
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - Kuan Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
| | - He Zhang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaochuan Liu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Huan Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
- Comparative and Endocrine Biology Laboratory, Translational Research Institute-Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane 4102, Australia
| | - Shuai Sun
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Xiao Du
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Yue Chang
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Feida Li
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Shanshan Liu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
| | - Simon Ming-Yuen Lee
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Center for Ecological and Environmental Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710072, China
| | - Ding Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430072, China
| | - Xianyan Wang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Michael R. McGowen
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC 20560, USA
| | | | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Evolutionary Genomics Section, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5, Copenhagen 1353, Denmark
| | - Josefin Stiller
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Guojie Zhang
- Section for Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
| | - Huanming Yang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Guangyi Fan
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Xin Liu
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, Qingdao, Shandong 266555, China
- BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518083, China
- BGI-Fuyang, BGI-Shenzhen, Fuyang, Anhui 236009, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guandong 518083, China
- Corresponding author
| | - Songhai Li
- Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China
- Function Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
- Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119227, Singapore
- Corresponding author
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12
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Wysokowski M, Zaslansky P, Ehrlich H. Macrobiomineralogy: Insights and Enigmas in Giant Whale Bones and Perspectives for Bioinspired Materials Science. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2020; 6:5357-5367. [PMID: 33320547 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.0c00364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The giant bones of whales (Cetacea) are the largest extant biomineral-based constructs known. The fact that such mammalian bones can grow up to 7 m long raises questions about differences and similarities to other smaller bones. Size and exposure to environmental stress are good reasons to suppose that an unexplored level of hierarchical organization may be present that is not needed in smaller bones. The existence of such a macroscopic naturally grown structure with poorly described mechanisms for biomineralization is an example of the many yet unexplored phenomena in living organisms. In this article, we describe key observations in macrobiomineralization and suggest that the large scale of biomineralization taking place in selected whale bones implies they may teach us fundamental principles of the chemistry, biology, and biomaterials science governing bone formation, from atomistic to the macrolevel. They are also associated with a very lipid rich environment on those bones. This has implications for bone development and damage sensing that has not yet been fully addressed. We propose that whale bone construction poses extreme requirements for inorganic material storage, mediated by biomacromolecules. Unlike extinct large mammals, cetaceans still live deep in large terrestrial water bodies following eons of adaptation. The nanocomposites from which the bones are made, comprising biomacromolecules and apatite nanocrystals, must therefore be well adapted to create the macroporous hierarchically structured architectures of the bones, with mechanical properties that match the loads imposed in vivo. This massive skeleton directly contributes to the survival of these largest mammals in the aquatic environments of Earth, with structural refinements being the result of 60 million years of evolution. We also believe that the concepts presented in this article highlight the beneficial uses of multidisciplinary and multiscale approaches to study the structural peculiarities of both organic and inorganic phases as well as mechanisms of biomineralization in highly specialized and evolutionarily conserved hard tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Wysokowski
- Institute of Chemical Technology and Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Technology, Poznan University of Technology, Berdychowo 4, Poznan 60965, Poland.,Institute of Electronics and Sensor Materials, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner Strasse 3, Freiberg 09599, Germany
| | - Paul Zaslansky
- Department for Restorative and Preventive Dentistry, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Hermann Ehrlich
- Institute of Electronics and Sensor Materials, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Gustav-Zeuner Strasse 3, Freiberg 09599, Germany
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13
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Lam EK, Allen KN, Torres-Velarde JM, Vázquez-Medina JP. Functional Studies with Primary Cells Provide a System for Genome-to-Phenome Investigations in Marine Mammals. Integr Comp Biol 2020; 60:348-360. [PMID: 32516367 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals exhibit some of the most dramatic physiological adaptations in their clade and offer unparalleled insights into the mechanisms driving convergent evolution on relatively short time scales. Some of these adaptations, such as extreme tolerance to hypoxia and prolonged food deprivation, are uncommon among most terrestrial mammals and challenge established metabolic principles of supply and demand balance. Non-targeted omics studies are starting to uncover the genetic foundations of such adaptations, but tools for testing functional significance in these animals are currently lacking. Cellular modeling with primary cells represents a powerful approach for elucidating the molecular etiology of physiological adaptation, a critical step in accelerating genome-to-phenome studies in organisms in which transgenesis is impossible (e.g., large-bodied, long-lived, fully aquatic, federally protected species). Gene perturbation studies in primary cells can directly evaluate whether specific mutations, gene loss, or duplication confer functional advantages such as hypoxia or stress tolerance in marine mammals. Here, we summarize how genetic and pharmacological manipulation approaches in primary cells have advanced mechanistic investigations in other non-traditional mammalian species, and highlight the need for such investigations in marine mammals. We also provide key considerations for isolating, culturing, and conducting experiments with marine mammal cells under conditions that mimic in vivo states. We propose that primary cell culture is a critical tool for conducting functional mechanistic studies (e.g., gene knockdown, over-expression, or editing) that can provide the missing link between genome- and organismal-level understanding of physiological adaptations in marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Lam
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kaitlin N Allen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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14
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Zhang QL, Li HW, Dong ZX, Yang XJ, Lin LB, Chen JY, Yuan ML. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) to explore the molecular adaptations to fresh water. Mol Ecol 2020; 29:2676-2691. [PMID: 32512643 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aquatic insects are well adapted to freshwater environments, but the molecular basis of these adaptations remains largely unknown. Most firefly species (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) are terrestrial, but the larvae of several species are aquatic. Here, larval and adult transcriptomes from Aquatica leii (freshwater) and Lychnuris praetexta (terrestrial) were generated to test whether the genes associated with metabolic efficiency and morphology have undergone adaptive evolution to fresh water. The aquatic fireflies had a significantly lower ratio of nonsynonymous to synonymous substitutions than the terrestrial insects, indicating a genomewide evolutionary constraint in the aquatic fireflies. We identified 341 fast-evolving genes and 116 positively selected genes in the aquatic fireflies. Of these, 76 genes exhibiting both fast evolution and positive selection were primarily involved in ATP production, energy metabolism and the hypoxia response. We identified 7,271 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in A. leii (adults versus larvae) and 8,309 DEGs in L. praetexta (adults versus larvae). DEGs specific to the aquatic firefly (n = 1,445) were screened via interspecific comparisons (A. leii versus L. praetexta) and were significantly enriched for genes involved in metabolic efficiency (e.g., ATP production, hypoxia, and immune responses) and certain aspects of morphology (e.g., cuticle chitin, tracheal and compound eye morphology). These results indicate that sequence and expression-level changes in genes associated with both metabolic efficiency and morphological attributes related to the freshwater lifestyle contributed to freshwater adaptation in fireflies. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of aquatic adaptation in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Lin Zhang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-Wei Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Zhi-Xiang Dong
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Xiao-Jie Yang
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Lian-Bing Lin
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Jun-Yuan Chen
- LPS, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China
| | - Ming-Long Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agricultural Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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15
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Magnadóttir B, Uysal-Onganer P, Kraev I, Svansson V, Hayes P, Lange S. Deiminated proteins and extracellular vesicles - Novel serum biomarkers in whales and orca. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2020; 34:100676. [PMID: 32114311 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2020.100676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are a family of phylogenetically conserved calcium-dependent enzymes which cause post-translational protein deimination. This can result in neoepitope generation, affect gene regulation and allow for protein moonlighting via functional and structural changes in target proteins. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry cargo proteins and genetic material and are released from cells as part of cellular communication. EVs are found in most body fluids where they can be useful biomarkers for assessment of health status. Here, serum-derived EVs were profiled, and post-translationally deiminated proteins and EV-related microRNAs are described in 5 ceataceans: minke whale, fin whale, humpback whale, Cuvier's beaked whale and orca. EV-serum profiles were assessed by transmission electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis. EV profiles varied between the 5 species and were identified to contain deiminated proteins and selected key inflammatory and metabolic microRNAs. A range of proteins, critical for immune responses and metabolism were identified to be deiminated in cetacean sera, with some shared KEGG pathways of deiminated proteins relating to immunity and physiology, while some KEGG pathways were species-specific. This is the first study to characterise and profile EVs and to report deiminated proteins and putative effects of protein-protein interaction networks via such post-translationald deimination in cetaceans, revealing key immune and metabolic factors to undergo this post-translational modification. Deiminated proteins and EVs profiles may possibly be developed as new biomarkers for assessing health status of sea mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bergljót Magnadóttir
- Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur v. Vesturlandsveg, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland.
| | - Pinar Uysal-Onganer
- Cancer Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
| | - Igor Kraev
- Electron Microscopy Suite, Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK.
| | - Vilhjálmur Svansson
- Institute for Experimental Pathology, University of Iceland, Keldur v. Vesturlandsveg, 112 Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Polly Hayes
- Tissue Architecture and Regeneration Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
| | - Sigrun Lange
- Tissue Architecture and Regeneration Research Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW, UK.
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16
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Sun D, Zhou X, Yu Z, Xu S, Seim I, Yang G. Accelerated evolution and diversifying selection drove the adaptation of cetacean bone microstructure. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:194. [PMID: 31651232 PMCID: PMC6813995 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1509-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transition from land to sea by the ancestor of cetaceans approximately 50 million years ago was an incredible evolutionary event that led to a series of morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptations. During this transition, bone microstructure evolved from the typical terrestrial form to the specialized structure found in modern cetaceans. While the bone microstructure of mammals has been documented before, investigations of its genetic basis lag behind. The increasing number of cetaceans with whole-genome sequences available may shed light on the mechanism underlying bone microstructure evolution as a result of land to water transitions. RESULTS Cetacean bone microstructure is consistent with their diverse ecological behaviors. Molecular evolution was assessed by correlating bone microstructure and gene substitution rates in terrestrial and aquatic species, and by detecting genes under positive selection along ancestral branches of cetaceans. We found that: 1) Genes involved in osteoclast function are under accelerated evolution in cetaceans, suggestive of important roles in bone remodeling during the adaptation to an aquatic environment; 2) Genes in the Wnt pathway critical for bone development and homeostasis show evidence of divergent evolution in cetaceans; 3) Several genes encoding bone collagens are under selective pressure in cetaceans. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that evolutionary pressures have shaped the bone microstructure of cetaceans, to facilitate life in diverse aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Xuming Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Zoology, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenpeng Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Shixia Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China
| | - Inge Seim
- Integrative Biology Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China
- Comparative and Endocrine Biology Laboratory, Translational Research Institute-Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 4102 Australia
| | - Guang Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023 China
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17
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Allen KN, Vázquez-Medina JP. Natural Tolerance to Ischemia and Hypoxemia in Diving Mammals: A Review. Front Physiol 2019; 10:1199. [PMID: 31620019 PMCID: PMC6763568 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Reperfusion injury follows ischemia/reperfusion events occurring during myocardial infarction, stroke, embolism, and other peripheral vascular diseases. Decreased blood flow and reduced oxygen tension during ischemic episodes activate cellular pathways that upregulate pro-inflammatory signaling and promote oxidant generation. Reperfusion after ischemia recruits inflammatory cells to the vascular wall, further exacerbating oxidant production and ultimately resulting in cell death, tissue injury, and organ dysfunction. Diving mammals tolerate repetitive episodes of peripheral ischemia/reperfusion as part of the cardiovascular adjustments supporting long duration dives. These adjustments allow marine mammals to optimize the use of their body oxygen stores while diving but can result in selectively reduced perfusion to peripheral tissues. Remarkably, diving mammals show no apparent detrimental effects associated with these ischemia/reperfusion events. Here, we review the current knowledge regarding the strategies marine mammals use to suppress inflammation and cope with oxidant generation potentially derived from diving-induced ischemia/reperfusion.
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18
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Huelsmann M, Hecker N, Springer MS, Gatesy J, Sharma V, Hiller M. Genes lost during the transition from land to water in cetaceans highlight genomic changes associated with aquatic adaptations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw6671. [PMID: 31579821 PMCID: PMC6760925 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw6671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Huelsmann
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Nikolai Hecker
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Mark S. Springer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - John Gatesy
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology and Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA
| | - Virag Sharma
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Hiller
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, 01187 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Systems Biology Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Corresponding author.
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Contraction of the ROS Scavenging Enzyme Glutathione S-Transferase Gene Family in Cetaceans. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2019; 9:2303-2315. [PMID: 31092607 PMCID: PMC6643896 DOI: 10.1534/g3.119.400224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cetaceans are a group of marine mammals whose ancestors were adaptated for life on land. Life in an aquatic environment poses many challenges for air-breathing mammals. Diving marine mammals have adapted to rapid reoxygenation and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated reperfusion injury. Here, we considered the evolution of the glutathione transferase (GST) gene family which has important roles in the detoxification of endogenously-derived ROS and environmental pollutants. We characterized the cytosolic GST gene family in 21 mammalian species; cetaceans, sirenians, pinnipeds, and their terrestrial relatives. All seven GST classes were identified, showing that GSTs are ubiquitous in mammals. Some GST genes are the product of lineage-specific duplications and losses, in line with a birth-and-death evolutionary model. We detected sites with signatures of positive selection that possibly influence GST structure and function, suggesting that adaptive evolution of GST genes is important for defending mammals from various types of noxious environmental compounds. We also found evidence for loss of alpha and mu GST subclass genes in cetacean lineages. Notably, cetaceans have retained a homolog of at least one of the genes GSTA1, GSTA4, and GSTM1; GSTs that are present in both the cytosol and mitochondria. The observed variation in number and selection pressure on GST genes suggest that the gene family structure is dynamic within cetaceans.
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Allen KN, Vázquez-Medina JP, Lawler JM, Mellish JAE, Horning M, Hindle AG. Muscular apoptosis but not oxidative stress increases with old age in a long-lived diver, the Weddell seal. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 222:jeb.200246. [PMID: 31171605 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.200246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Seals experience repeated bouts of ischemia-reperfusion while diving, potentially exposing their tissues to increased oxidant generation and thus oxidative damage and accelerated aging. We contrasted markers of oxidative damage with antioxidant profiles across age and sex for propulsive (longissismus dorsi) and maneuvering (pectoralis) muscles of Weddell seals to determine whether previously observed morphological senescence is associated with oxidative stress. In longissismus dorsi, old (age 17-26 years) seals exhibited a nearly 2-fold increase in apoptosis over young (age 9-16 years) seals. There was no evidence of age-associated changes in lipid peroxidation or enzymatic antioxidant profiles. In pectoralis, 4-hydroxynonenal-Lys (4-HNE-Lys) levels increased 1.5-fold in old versus young seals, but lipid hydroperoxide levels and apoptotic index did not vary with age. Glutathione peroxidase activity was 1.5-fold higher in pectoralis of old versus young animals, but no other antioxidants changed with age in this muscle. With respect to sex, no differences in lipid hydroperoxides or apoptosis were observed in either muscle. Males had higher HSP70 expression (1.4-fold) and glutathione peroxidase activity (1.3-fold) than females in longissismus dorsi, although glutathione reductase activity was 1.4-fold higher in females. No antioxidants varied with sex in pectoralis. These results show that apoptosis is not associated with oxidative stress in aged Weddell seal muscles. Additionally, the data suggest that adult seals utilize sex-specific antioxidant strategies in longissismus dorsi but not pectoralis to protect skeletal muscles from oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin N Allen
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - José Pablo Vázquez-Medina
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 3040 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - John M Lawler
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, USA
| | - Jo-Ann E Mellish
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA
| | - Markus Horning
- Alaska SeaLife Center, 301 Railway Avenue, Seward, AK 99664, USA.,Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University, 2030 Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Allyson G Hindle
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA
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