Analysis of the FGF gene family provides insights into aquatic adaptation in cetaceans SCIE SCOPUS

Cited 19 time in WEB OF SCIENCE Cited 21 time in Scopus
Title
Analysis of the FGF gene family provides insights into aquatic adaptation in cetaceans
Author(s)
Nam, Kiwoong; Lee, Kyeong Won; Chung, Oksung; Yim, Hyung-Soon; Cha, Sun-Shin; Lee, Sae-Won; Jun, JeHoon; Cho, Yun Sung; Bhak, Jong; de Magalhaes, Joao Pedro; Lee, Jung-Hyun; Jeong, Jae-Yeon
KIOST Author(s)
Lee, Kyeong Won(이경원)Yim, Hyung Soon(임형순)Lee, Jung Hyun(이정현)
Alternative Author(s)
이경원; 임형순; 이정현
Publication Year
2017-01
Abstract
Cetacean body structure and physiology exhibit dramatic adaptations to their aquatic environment. Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of essential factors that regulate animal development and physiology; however, their role in cetacean evolution is not clearly understood. Here, we sequenced the fin whale genome and analysed FGFs from 8 cetaceans. FGF22, a hair follicle-enriched gene, exhibited pseudogenization, indicating that the function of this gene is no longer necessary in cetaceans that have lost most of their body hair. An evolutionary analysis revealed signatures of positive selection for FGF3 and FGF11, genes related to ear and tooth development and hypoxia, respectively. We found a D203G substitution in cetacean FGF9, which was predicted to affect FGF9 homodimerization, suggesting that this gene plays a role in the acquisition of rigid flippers for efficient manoeuvring. Cetaceans utilize low bone density as a buoyancy control mechanism, but the underlying genes are not known. We found that the expression of FGF23, a gene associated with reduced bone density, is greatly increased in the cetacean liver under hypoxic conditions, thus implicating FGF23 in low bone density in cetaceans. Altogether, our results provide novel insights into the roles of FGFs in cetacean adaptation to the aquatic environment.
ISSN
2045-2322
URI
https://sciwatch.kiost.ac.kr/handle/2020.kiost/1300
DOI
10.1038/srep40233
Bibliographic Citation
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v.7, 2017
Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Type
Article
Language
English
Document Type
Article
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