Cell Reports (Jan 2015)
Insights into the Evolution of Longevity from the Bowhead Whale Genome
- Michael Keane,
- Jeremy Semeiks,
- Andrew E. Webb,
- Yang I. Li,
- Víctor Quesada,
- Thomas Craig,
- Lone Bruhn Madsen,
- Sipko van Dam,
- David Brawand,
- Patrícia I. Marques,
- Pawel Michalak,
- Lin Kang,
- Jong Bhak,
- Hyung-Soon Yim,
- Nick V. Grishin,
- Nynne Hjort Nielsen,
- Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen,
- Elias M. Oziolor,
- Cole W. Matson,
- George M. Church,
- Gary W. Stuart,
- John C. Patton,
- J. Craig George,
- Robert Suydam,
- Knud Larsen,
- Carlos López-Otín,
- Mary J. O’Connell,
- John W. Bickham,
- Bo Thomsen,
- João Pedro de Magalhães
Affiliations
- Michael Keane
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Jeremy Semeiks
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA
- Andrew E. Webb
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
- Yang I. Li
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
- Víctor Quesada
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Thomas Craig
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- Lone Bruhn Madsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
- Sipko van Dam
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- David Brawand
- MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
- Patrícia I. Marques
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Pawel Michalak
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Lin Kang
- Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Jong Bhak
- Personal Genomics Institute, Genome Research Foundation, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea
- Hyung-Soon Yim
- KIOST, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan 426–744, Republic of Korea
- Nick V. Grishin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA
- Nynne Hjort Nielsen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
- Mads Peter Heide-Jørgensen
- Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland
- Elias M. Oziolor
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) and Institute for Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
- Cole W. Matson
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) and Institute for Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
- George M. Church
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Gary W. Stuart
- The Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA) and Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA
- John C. Patton
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- J. Craig George
- North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow, AK 99723, USA
- Robert Suydam
- North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow, AK 99723, USA
- Knud Larsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
- Carlos López-Otín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain
- Mary J. O’Connell
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
- John W. Bickham
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Houston, TX 77079, USA
- Bo Thomsen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark
- João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2014.12.008
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 10,
no. 1
pp. 112 – 122
Abstract
The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is estimated to live over 200 years and is possibly the longest-living mammal. These animals should possess protective molecular adaptations relevant to age-related diseases, particularly cancer. Here, we report the sequencing and comparative analysis of the bowhead whale genome and two transcriptomes from different populations. Our analysis identifies genes under positive selection and bowhead-specific mutations in genes linked to cancer and aging. In addition, we identify gene gain and loss involving genes associated with DNA repair, cell-cycle regulation, cancer, and aging. Our results expand our understanding of the evolution of mammalian longevity and suggest possible players involved in adaptive genetic changes conferring cancer resistance. We also found potentially relevant changes in genes related to additional processes, including thermoregulation, sensory perception, dietary adaptations, and immune response. Our data are made available online (http://www.bowhead-whale.org) to facilitate research in this long-lived species.
