Convergent evolution in high-altitude and marine mammals:Molecular adaptations to pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia  

作　　者：Bo-Xiong Guo Ya Zhang Xiao-Yu Sun Yi-Xuan Sun Wen-Jun Lv Shi-Xia Xu Guang Yang Wen-Hua Ren 

机构地区：[1]Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Biotechnology,College of Life Sciences,Nanjing Normal University,Nanjing,Jiangsu 210046,China

出　　处：《Zoological Research》2024年第6期1209-1220,共12页动物学研究（英文）

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32270442,31872219,31370401,32030011,31630071,31772448);National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFF1301602);Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(KYCX23_1747,KYCX23_1740)。

摘　　要：High-altitude and marine mammals inhabit distinct ecosystems but share a common challenge:hypoxia.To survive in low-oxygen environments,these species have evolved similar phenotypic pulmonary adaptations,characterized by a high density of elastic fibers.In this study,we explored the molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations,focusing on pulmonary fibrosis and hypoxia tolerance through comparative genomics and convergent evolution analyses.We observed significant expansions and contractions in certain gene families across both high-altitude and marine mammals,closely associated with processes involved in pulmonary fibrosis.Notably,members of the keratin gene family,such as KRT17 and KRT14,appear to be associated with the development of the dense elastic fiber phenotype observed in the lungs of hypoxia-tolerant mammals.Through selection pressure and amino acid substitution analyses,we identified multiple genes exhibiting convergent accelerated evolution,positive selection,and amino acid substitution in these species,associated with adaptation to hypoxic environments.Specifically,the convergent evolution of ZFP36L1,FN1,and NEDD9 was found to contribute to the high density of elastic fibers in the lungs of both high-altitude and marine mammals,facilitating their hypoxia tolerance.Additionally,we identified convergent amino acid substitutions and gene loss events associated with sperm development,differentiation,and spermatogenesis,such as amino acid substitutions in SLC26A3 and pseudogenization of CFAP47,as confirmed by PCR.These genetic alterations may be linked to changes in the reproductive capabilities of these animals.Overall,this study offers novel perspectives on the genetic and molecular adaptations of high-altitude and marine mammals to hypoxic environments,with a particular emphasis on pulmonary fibrosis.

关 键 词：Convergent evolution Pulmonary fibrosis High-altitude mammals Marine mammals HYPOXIA 

分 类 号：Q951[生物学—动物学]