The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism
Abstract Cetaceans are a group of aquatic mammals with the largest body sizes among living animals, including giant representatives such as blue and fin whales. To understand the genetic bases of gigantism in cetaceans, we performed molecular evolutionary analyses on five genes (GHSR, IGF2, IGFBP2,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24529-3 |
| _version_ | 1797945960033157120 |
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| author | Felipe André Silva Érica M. S. Souza Elisa Ramos Lucas Freitas Mariana F. Nery |
| author_facet | Felipe André Silva Érica M. S. Souza Elisa Ramos Lucas Freitas Mariana F. Nery |
| author_sort | Felipe André Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cetaceans are a group of aquatic mammals with the largest body sizes among living animals, including giant representatives such as blue and fin whales. To understand the genetic bases of gigantism in cetaceans, we performed molecular evolutionary analyses on five genes (GHSR, IGF2, IGFBP2, IGFBP7, and EGF) from the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis, and four genes (ZFAT, EGF, LCORL, and PLAG1) previously described as related to the size of species evolutionarily close to cetaceans, such as pigs, cows, and sheep. Our dataset comprised 19 species of cetaceans, seven of which are classified as giants because they exceed 10 m in length. Our results revealed signs of positive selection in genes from the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis and also in those related to body increase in cetacean-related species. In addition, pseudogenization of the EGF gene was detected in the lineage of toothless cetaceans, Mysticeti. Our results suggest the action of positive selection on gigantism in genes that act both in body augmentation and in mitigating its consequences, such as cancer suppression when involved in processes such as division, migration, and cell development control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:03:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-87bdf495fecc498188f022b11ffff2b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:03:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-87bdf495fecc498188f022b11ffff2b82023-01-22T12:12:46ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-01-0113111010.1038/s41598-022-24529-3The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantismFelipe André Silva0Érica M. S. Souza1Elisa Ramos2Lucas Freitas3Mariana F. Nery4Laboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMPLaboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMPLaboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMPLaboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMPLaboratório de Genômica Evolutiva, Departamento de Genética, Evolução, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas-UNICAMPAbstract Cetaceans are a group of aquatic mammals with the largest body sizes among living animals, including giant representatives such as blue and fin whales. To understand the genetic bases of gigantism in cetaceans, we performed molecular evolutionary analyses on five genes (GHSR, IGF2, IGFBP2, IGFBP7, and EGF) from the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis, and four genes (ZFAT, EGF, LCORL, and PLAG1) previously described as related to the size of species evolutionarily close to cetaceans, such as pigs, cows, and sheep. Our dataset comprised 19 species of cetaceans, seven of which are classified as giants because they exceed 10 m in length. Our results revealed signs of positive selection in genes from the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis and also in those related to body increase in cetacean-related species. In addition, pseudogenization of the EGF gene was detected in the lineage of toothless cetaceans, Mysticeti. Our results suggest the action of positive selection on gigantism in genes that act both in body augmentation and in mitigating its consequences, such as cancer suppression when involved in processes such as division, migration, and cell development control.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24529-3 |
| spellingShingle | Felipe André Silva Érica M. S. Souza Elisa Ramos Lucas Freitas Mariana F. Nery The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism Scientific Reports |
| title | The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| title_full | The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| title_fullStr | The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| title_short | The molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| title_sort | molecular evolution of genes previously associated with large sizes reveals possible pathways to cetacean gigantism |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24529-3 |
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