White shark genome reveals ancient elasmobranch adaptations associated with wound healing and the maintenance of genome stability
Abstract
Sharks represent an ancient vertebrate lineage whose genomes have been only minimally investigated. We here characterize the genome of the white shark, an apex marine predator. Its genome is 4.63 Gbp, over half of which is represented by repeat sequences, including a large proportion of transposable elements. Comparative analysis of white shark, whale shark, chimaera, and several nonchondrichthyan vertebrate genomes reveals positive selection and enrichment of gene functional categories and pathways involved in wound healing, and in the maintenance of genome stability in sharks. Sharks show a limited repertoire of olfactory genes but an expanded vomeronasal (VR2) gene family, suggesting an alternative mechanism underlying their vaunted sense of smell.
- Publication:
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
- Pub Date:
- March 2019
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2019PNAS..116.4446M
