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Linking gene expression and phenotypic changes in the developmental and evolutionary origins of osteosclerosis in the ribs of bowhead whales ( Balaena mysticetus )
- Source :
- Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution. 334:339-349
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Bowhead whales are among the longest-lived mammals with an extreme lifespan of about 211 years. During the first 25 years of their lives, rib bones increase in mineral density and the medulla transitions from compact to trabecular bone. Molecular drivers associated with these phenotypic changes in bone remain unknown. This study assessed expression levels of osteogenic genes from samples of rib bones of bowheads. Samples were harvested from prenatal to 86-year-old whales, representing the first third of the bowhead lifespan. Fetal to 2-year-old bowheads showed expression levels consistent with the rapid deposition of the bone extracellular matrix. Sexually mature animals showed expression levels associated with low rates of osteogenesis and increased osteoclastogenesis. After the first 25 years of life, declines in osteogenesis corresponded with increased expression of EZH2, an epigenetic regulator of osteogenesis. These findings suggest EZH2 may be at least one epigenetic modifier that contributes to the age-related changes in the rib bone phenotype along with the transition from compact to trabecular bone. Ancient cetaceans and their fossil relatives also display these phenotypes, suggesting EZH2 may have shaped the skeleton of whales in evolutionary history.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
0301 basic medicine
Aging
Cetacea
Ribs
Biology
010603 evolutionary biology
01 natural sciences
Epigenesis, Genetic
Extracellular matrix
03 medical and health sciences
Osteosclerosis
Genetics
medicine
Animals
Epigenetics
Balaena
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Rib cage
Whales
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
medicine.disease
biology.organism_classification
Skeleton (computer programming)
Phenotype
030104 developmental biology
Evolutionary biology
Molecular Medicine
Animal Science and Zoology
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15525015 and 15525007
- Volume :
- 334
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Experimental Zoology Part B: Molecular and Developmental Evolution
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....b908759fab35fd6cd518ae6767d80093