The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules
Melatonin, the hormone of darkness, is a peculiar molecule found in most living organisms. Emerging as a potent broad-spectrum antioxidant, melatonin was repurposed into extra roles such as the modulation of circadian and seasonal rhythmicity, affecting numerous aspects of physiology and behaviour,...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 |
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ftmdpi:oai:mdpi.com:/2073-4425/10/2/121/ 2023-08-20T04:05:27+02:00 The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules Mónica Lopes-Marques Raquel Ruivo Luís Q. Alves Nelson Sousa André M. Machado L. Filipe C. Castro agris 2019-02-06 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 EN eng Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute Animal Genetics and Genomics https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Genes; Volume 10; Issue 2; Pages: 121 gene loss Cetacea melatonin circadian rhythms Text 2019 ftmdpi https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 2023-07-31T22:01:36Z Melatonin, the hormone of darkness, is a peculiar molecule found in most living organisms. Emerging as a potent broad-spectrum antioxidant, melatonin was repurposed into extra roles such as the modulation of circadian and seasonal rhythmicity, affecting numerous aspects of physiology and behaviour, including sleep entrainment and locomotor activity. Interestingly, the pineal gland—the melatonin synthesising organ in vertebrates—was suggested to be absent or rudimentary in some mammalian lineages, including Cetacea. In Cetacea, pineal regression is paralleled by their unique bio-rhythmicity, as illustrated by the unihemispheric sleeping behaviour and long-term vigilance. Here, we examined the genes responsible for melatonin synthesis (Aanat and Asmt) and signalling (Mtnr1a and Mtnr1b) in 12 toothed and baleen whale genomes. Based on an ample genomic comparison, we deduce that melatonin-related gene modules are eroded in Cetacea. Text baleen whale MDPI Open Access Publishing Genes 10 2 121 |
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MDPI Open Access Publishing |
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ftmdpi |
language |
English |
topic |
gene loss Cetacea melatonin circadian rhythms |
spellingShingle |
gene loss Cetacea melatonin circadian rhythms Mónica Lopes-Marques Raquel Ruivo Luís Q. Alves Nelson Sousa André M. Machado L. Filipe C. Castro The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
topic_facet |
gene loss Cetacea melatonin circadian rhythms |
description |
Melatonin, the hormone of darkness, is a peculiar molecule found in most living organisms. Emerging as a potent broad-spectrum antioxidant, melatonin was repurposed into extra roles such as the modulation of circadian and seasonal rhythmicity, affecting numerous aspects of physiology and behaviour, including sleep entrainment and locomotor activity. Interestingly, the pineal gland—the melatonin synthesising organ in vertebrates—was suggested to be absent or rudimentary in some mammalian lineages, including Cetacea. In Cetacea, pineal regression is paralleled by their unique bio-rhythmicity, as illustrated by the unihemispheric sleeping behaviour and long-term vigilance. Here, we examined the genes responsible for melatonin synthesis (Aanat and Asmt) and signalling (Mtnr1a and Mtnr1b) in 12 toothed and baleen whale genomes. Based on an ample genomic comparison, we deduce that melatonin-related gene modules are eroded in Cetacea. |
format |
Text |
author |
Mónica Lopes-Marques Raquel Ruivo Luís Q. Alves Nelson Sousa André M. Machado L. Filipe C. Castro |
author_facet |
Mónica Lopes-Marques Raquel Ruivo Luís Q. Alves Nelson Sousa André M. Machado L. Filipe C. Castro |
author_sort |
Mónica Lopes-Marques |
title |
The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
title_short |
The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
title_full |
The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
title_fullStr |
The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Singularity of Cetacea Behavior Parallels the Complete Inactivation of Melatonin Gene Modules |
title_sort |
singularity of cetacea behavior parallels the complete inactivation of melatonin gene modules |
publisher |
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 |
op_coverage |
agris |
genre |
baleen whale |
genre_facet |
baleen whale |
op_source |
Genes; Volume 10; Issue 2; Pages: 121 |
op_relation |
Animal Genetics and Genomics https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 |
op_rights |
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/genes10020121 |
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Genes |
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10 |
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2 |
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121 |
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1774715967101730816 |