Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms
Anan’s rock agama (<i>Laudakia sacra</i>) is a lizard species endemic to the harsh high-altitude environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, a region characterized by low oxygen tension and high ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying highland ada...
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
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| author | Chaochao Yan Zhi-Yi Zhang Yunyun Lv Zeng Wang Ke Jiang Jia-Tang Li |
| author_facet | Chaochao Yan Zhi-Yi Zhang Yunyun Lv Zeng Wang Ke Jiang Jia-Tang Li |
| author_sort | Chaochao Yan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Anan’s rock agama (<i>Laudakia sacra</i>) is a lizard species endemic to the harsh high-altitude environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, a region characterized by low oxygen tension and high ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying highland adaptation of ectotherms, we assembled a 1.80-Gb <i>L. sacra</i> genome, which contained 284 contigs with an N50 of 20.19 Mb and a BUSCO score of 93.54%. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that mutations in certain genes, including <i>HIF1A</i>, <i>TIE2</i>, and NFAT family members and genes in the respiratory chain, may be common adaptations to hypoxia among high-altitude animals. Compared with lowland reptiles, <i>MLIP</i> showed a convergent mutation in <i>L. sacra</i> and the Tibetan hot-spring snake (<i>Thermophis baileyi</i>), which may affect their hypoxia adaptation. In <i>L. sacra</i>, several genes related to cardiovascular remodeling, erythropoiesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and DNA repair may also be tailored for adaptation to UV radiation and hypoxia. Of note, <i>ERCC6</i> and <i>MSH2</i>, two genes associated with adaptation to UV radiation in <i>T. baileyi</i>, exhibited <i>L. sacra</i>-specific mutations that may affect peptide function. Thus, this study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms underpinning high-altitude adaptation in ectotherms and reveals certain genetic generalities for animals’ survival on the plateau. |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj.art-22e792f583bb41069be8988f8470af702023-11-23T13:22:40ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672022-09-0123171008110.3390/ijms231710081Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of EctothermsChaochao Yan0Zhi-Yi Zhang1Yunyun Lv2Zeng Wang3Ke Jiang4Jia-Tang Li5CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, ChinaAnan’s rock agama (<i>Laudakia sacra</i>) is a lizard species endemic to the harsh high-altitude environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, a region characterized by low oxygen tension and high ultraviolet (UV) radiation. To better understand the genetic mechanisms underlying highland adaptation of ectotherms, we assembled a 1.80-Gb <i>L. sacra</i> genome, which contained 284 contigs with an N50 of 20.19 Mb and a BUSCO score of 93.54%. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that mutations in certain genes, including <i>HIF1A</i>, <i>TIE2</i>, and NFAT family members and genes in the respiratory chain, may be common adaptations to hypoxia among high-altitude animals. Compared with lowland reptiles, <i>MLIP</i> showed a convergent mutation in <i>L. sacra</i> and the Tibetan hot-spring snake (<i>Thermophis baileyi</i>), which may affect their hypoxia adaptation. In <i>L. sacra</i>, several genes related to cardiovascular remodeling, erythropoiesis, oxidative phosphorylation, and DNA repair may also be tailored for adaptation to UV radiation and hypoxia. Of note, <i>ERCC6</i> and <i>MSH2</i>, two genes associated with adaptation to UV radiation in <i>T. baileyi</i>, exhibited <i>L. sacra</i>-specific mutations that may affect peptide function. Thus, this study provides new insights into the potential mechanisms underpinning high-altitude adaptation in ectotherms and reveals certain genetic generalities for animals’ survival on the plateau.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/17/10081lizardde novo genomecomparative genomicshypoxiaUV damage |
| spellingShingle | Chaochao Yan Zhi-Yi Zhang Yunyun Lv Zeng Wang Ke Jiang Jia-Tang Li Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms International Journal of Molecular Sciences lizard de novo genome comparative genomics hypoxia UV damage |
| title | Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms |
| title_full | Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms |
| title_fullStr | Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms |
| title_short | Genome of <i>Laudakia sacra</i> Provides New Insights into High-Altitude Adaptation of Ectotherms |
| title_sort | genome of i laudakia sacra i provides new insights into high altitude adaptation of ectotherms |
| topic | lizard de novo genome comparative genomics hypoxia UV damage |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/23/17/10081 |
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