Adaptations to a Subterranean Environment and Longevity Revealed by the Analysis of Mole Rat Genomes

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) 2014-09, Vol.8 (5), p.1354-1364
• Main Authors: Fang, Xiaodong, Seim, Inge, Huang, Zhiyong, Gerashchenko, Maxim V., Xiong, Zhiqiang, Turanov, Anton A., Zhu, Yabing, Lobanov, Alexei V., Fan, Dingding, Yim, Sun Hee, Yao, Xiaoming, Ma, Siming, Yang, Lan, Lee, Sang-Goo, Kim, Eun Bae, Bronson, Roderick T., Šumbera, Radim, Buffenstein, Rochelle, Zhou, Xin, Krogh, Anders, Park, Thomas J., Zhang, Guojie, Wang, Jun, Gladyshev, Vadim N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Actins - genetics; Adaptation, Physiological - genetics; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Ecosystem; Genetic Speciation; Genome; Globins - genetics; Insulin - genetics; Longevity; Melatonin - genetics; Mole Rats - genetics; Molecular Sequence Data; Pain - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S - genetics; Thermogenesis - genetics; Transcriptome
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.07.030

Subterranean mammals spend their lives in dark, unventilated environments that are rich in carbon dioxide and ammonia and low in oxygen. Many of these animals are also long-lived and exhibit reduced aging-associated diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. We sequenced the genome of the Damaraland mole rat (DMR, Fukomys damarensis) and improved the genome assembly of the naked mole rat (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber). Comparative genome analyses, along with the transcriptomes of related subterranean rodents, revealed candidate molecular adaptations for subterranean life and longevity, including a divergent insulin peptide, expression of oxygen-carrying globins in the brain, prevention of high CO2-induced pain perception, and enhanced ammonia detoxification. Juxtaposition of the genomes of DMR and other more conventional animals with the genome of NMR revealed several truly exceptional NMR features: unusual thermogenesis, an aberrant melatonin system, pain insensitivity, and unique processing of 28S rRNA. Together, these genomes and transcriptomes extend our understanding of subterranean adaptations, stress resistance, and longevity. [Display omitted] •Genome of the Damaraland mole rat and improved genome assembly of the naked mole rat•Transcriptomes of subterranean rodents and comparative genome analyses•Common adaptations for subterranean life: arginase, globins, and Na(V)1.7•Unique NMR adaptations: UCP1, 28S rRNA processing, melatonin, actin, and pain systems Subterranean rodents thrive in harsh underground environments. Many are long-lived and hold promise as animal models of successful aging and sustained good health. Here, Fang et al. sequence the genome of the Damaraland mole rat (Fukomys damarensis), improve the genome assembly of the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber), and compare the transcriptomes of subterranean rodents. Comparative analyses reveal candidate molecular adaptations for subterranean life and longevity, as well as traits unique to the naked mole rat, including unusual thermogenesis and novel processing of 28S rRNA.