title: Insights into the evolution of longevity from the bowhead whale genome.
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.
authors.affiliation: Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA.
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Semeiks
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Webb
authors.affiliation: MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.
authors.forename: Yang I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quesada
authors.affiliation: Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Lone Bruhn
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.affiliation: Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK.
authors.forename: Sipko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Dam
authors.affiliation: MRC Functional Genomics Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brawand
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Patrícia I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: Virginia Bioinformatics Institute, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Personal Genomics Institute, Genome Research Foundation, Suwon 443-270, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhak
authors.affiliation: KIOST, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Ansan 426-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Departments of Biophysics and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9050, USA.
authors.forename: Nick V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Grishin
authors.affiliation: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Nynne Hjort
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, 3900 Nuuk, Greenland.
authors.forename: Mads Peter
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Heide-Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) and Institute for Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
authors.forename: Elias M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Oziolor
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research (CRASR) and Institute for Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA.
authors.forename: Cole W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: George M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Church
authors.affiliation: The Center for Genomic Advocacy (TCGA) and Department of Biology, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USA.
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Stuart
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Patton
authors.affiliation: North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow, AK 99723, USA.
authors.forename: J Craig
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: North Slope Borough, Department of Wildlife Management, Barrow, AK 99723, USA.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Suydam
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Knud
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Instituto Universitario de Oncología (IUOPA), Universidad de Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: López-Otín
authors.affiliation: Bioinformatics and Molecular Evolution Group, School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.affiliation: Battelle Memorial Institute, Houston, TX 77079, USA; Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bickham
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, 8830 Tjele, Denmark.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK. Electronic address: jp@senescence.info.
authors.forename: João Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Magalhães
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D050642:Bowhead Whale / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA