Ancient convergent losses of Paraoxonase 1 yield potential risks for modern marine mammals

Authors

Wynn K. Meyer, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh
Jerrica Jamison, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Rebecca Richter, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
Stacy E. Woods, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
Raghavendran Partha, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh
Amanda Kowalczyk, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh
Charles Kronk, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh
Maria Chikina, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh,
Robert K. Bonde, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey,
Daniel E. Crocker, Department of Biology, Sonoma State University
Joseph Gaspard, Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium,
Janet M. Lanyon, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland
Judit Marsillach, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
Clement E. Furlong, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington & Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington
Nathan L. Clark, Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh & Pittsburgh Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of PittsburghFollow

Date of this Version

8-10-2018

Citation

Meyer et al., Science 361, 591–594 (2018)

Comments

U.S. Government Work.

Abstract

Mammals diversified by colonizing drastically different environments, with each transition yielding numerous molecular changes, including losses of protein function. Though not initially deleterious, these losses could subsequently carry deleterious pleiotropic consequences. We have used phylogenetic methods to identify convergent functional losses across independent marine mammal lineages. In one extreme case, Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) accrued lesions in all marine lineages, while remaining intact in all terrestrial mammals. These lesions coincide with PON1 enzymatic activity loss in marine species’ blood plasma. This convergent loss is likely explained by parallel shifts in marine ancestors’ lipid metabolism and/or bloodstream oxidative environment affecting PON1’s role in fatty acid oxidation. PON1 loss also eliminates marine mammals’ main defense against neurotoxicity from specific man-made organophosphorus compounds, implying potential risks in modern environments