Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments
Abstract Parochlus steinenii is the only flying insect native to Antarctica. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation to cold environments, we conducted comparative genomic analyses of P. steinenii and closely related lineages. In an analysis of gene family evolution, 68 rapid...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23268-9 |
| _version_ | 1797989844686733312 |
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| author | Heesoo Kim Han-Woo Kim Jun Hyuck Lee Joonho Park Hyoungseok Lee Sanghee Kim Seung Chul Shin |
| author_facet | Heesoo Kim Han-Woo Kim Jun Hyuck Lee Joonho Park Hyoungseok Lee Sanghee Kim Seung Chul Shin |
| author_sort | Heesoo Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Parochlus steinenii is the only flying insect native to Antarctica. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation to cold environments, we conducted comparative genomic analyses of P. steinenii and closely related lineages. In an analysis of gene family evolution, 68 rapidly evolving gene families, involved in the innate immune system, unfolded protein response, DNA packaging, protein folding, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were detected. Some gene families were P. steinenii-specific and showed phylogenetic instability. Acyl-CoA delta desaturase and heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) were representative gene families, showing signatures of positive selection with multiple gene duplication events. Acyl-CoA delta desaturases may play pivotal roles in membrane fluidity, and expanded Hsc70 genes may function as chaperones or thermal sensors in cold environments. These findings suggest that multiple gene family expansions contributed to the adaptation of P. steinenii to cold environments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:26:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c577d9c5c2c4eddbe4181fcc9f42167 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T08:26:58Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c577d9c5c2c4eddbe4181fcc9f421672022-12-22T04:34:43ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-10-0112111310.1038/s41598-022-23268-9Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environmentsHeesoo Kim0Han-Woo Kim1Jun Hyuck Lee2Joonho Park3Hyoungseok Lee4Sanghee Kim5Seung Chul Shin6Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)Research Unit of Cryogenic Novel Material, Korea Polar Research InstituteResearch Unit of Cryogenic Novel Material, Korea Polar Research InstituteDepartment of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and TechnologyDivision of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)Division of Life Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI)Abstract Parochlus steinenii is the only flying insect native to Antarctica. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation to cold environments, we conducted comparative genomic analyses of P. steinenii and closely related lineages. In an analysis of gene family evolution, 68 rapidly evolving gene families, involved in the innate immune system, unfolded protein response, DNA packaging, protein folding, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were detected. Some gene families were P. steinenii-specific and showed phylogenetic instability. Acyl-CoA delta desaturase and heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70) were representative gene families, showing signatures of positive selection with multiple gene duplication events. Acyl-CoA delta desaturases may play pivotal roles in membrane fluidity, and expanded Hsc70 genes may function as chaperones or thermal sensors in cold environments. These findings suggest that multiple gene family expansions contributed to the adaptation of P. steinenii to cold environments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23268-9 |
| spellingShingle | Heesoo Kim Han-Woo Kim Jun Hyuck Lee Joonho Park Hyoungseok Lee Sanghee Kim Seung Chul Shin Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments Scientific Reports |
| title | Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| title_full | Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| title_fullStr | Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| title_short | Gene family expansions in Antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| title_sort | gene family expansions in antarctic winged midge as a strategy for adaptation to cold environments |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-23268-9 |
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