TY - JOUR
T1 - Genome of the Komodo dragon reveals adaptations in the cardiovascular and chemosensory systems of monitor lizards
AU - Lind, Abigail L.
AU - Lai, Yvonne Y.Y.
AU - Mostovoy, Yulia
AU - Holloway, Alisha K.
AU - Iannucci, Alessio
AU - Mak, Angel C.Y.
AU - Fondi, Marco
AU - Orlandini, Valerio
AU - Eckalbar, Walter L.
AU - Milan, Massimo
AU - Rovatsos, Michail
AU - Kichigin, Ilya G.
AU - Makunin, Alex I.
AU - Johnson Pokorná, Martina
AU - Altmanová, Marie
AU - Trifonov, Vladimir A.
AU - Schijlen, Elio
AU - Kratochvíl, Lukáš
AU - Fani, Renato
AU - Velenský, Petr
AU - Rehák, Ivan
AU - Patarnello, Tomaso
AU - Jessop, Tim S.
AU - Hicks, James W.
AU - Ryder, Oliver A.
AU - Mendelson, Joseph R.
AU - Ciofi, Claudio
AU - Kwok, Pui Yan
AU - Pollard, Katherine S.
AU - Bruneau, Benoit G.
PY - 2019/7/29
Y1 - 2019/7/29
N2 - Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping. Comparing the genome of V. komodoensis with those of related species, we find evidence of positive selection in pathways related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, and haemostasis. We also show species-specific expansions of a chemoreceptor gene family related to pheromone and kairomone sensing in V. komodoensis and other lizard lineages. Together, these evolutionary signatures of adaptation reveal the genetic underpinnings of the unique Komodo dragon sensory and cardiovascular systems, and suggest that selective pressure altered haemostasis genes to help Komodo dragons evade the anticoagulant effects of their own saliva. The Komodo dragon genome is an important resource for understanding the biology of monitor lizards and reptiles worldwide.
AB - Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping. Comparing the genome of V. komodoensis with those of related species, we find evidence of positive selection in pathways related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, and haemostasis. We also show species-specific expansions of a chemoreceptor gene family related to pheromone and kairomone sensing in V. komodoensis and other lizard lineages. Together, these evolutionary signatures of adaptation reveal the genetic underpinnings of the unique Komodo dragon sensory and cardiovascular systems, and suggest that selective pressure altered haemostasis genes to help Komodo dragons evade the anticoagulant effects of their own saliva. The Komodo dragon genome is an important resource for understanding the biology of monitor lizards and reptiles worldwide.
U2 - 10.1038/s41559-019-0945-8
DO - 10.1038/s41559-019-0945-8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85069907719
SN - 2397-334X
VL - 3
SP - 1241
EP - 1252
JO - Nature Ecology and Evolution
JF - Nature Ecology and Evolution
IS - 8
ER -