Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

The seahorse genome and the evolution of its specialized morphology
Lin, Q.; Fan, S.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, M.; Zhang, X.; Yang, Y.; Lee, A.P.; Woltering, J.M. (2016). The seahorse genome and the evolution of its specialized morphology. Nature (Lond.) 540(7633): 395-399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature20595
In: Nature: International Weekly Journal of Science. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 0028-0836; e-ISSN 1476-4687, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keyword
    Marine/Coastal

Authors  Top 
  • Lin, Q., more
  • Fan, S.
  • Zhang, Y.
  • Xu, M.
  • Zhang, X.
  • Yang, Y.
  • Lee, A.P.
  • Woltering, J.M.

Abstract
    Seahorses have a specialized morphology that includes a toothless tubular mouth, a body covered with bony plates, a male brood pouch, and the absence of caudal and pelvic fins. Here we report the sequencing and de novo assembly of the genome of the tiger tail seahorse, Hippocampus comes. Comparative genomic analysis identifies higher protein and nucleotide evolutionary rates in H. comes compared with other teleost fish genomes. We identified an astacin metalloprotease gene family that has undergone expansion and is highly expressed in the male brood pouch. We also find that the H. comes genome lacks enamel matrix protein-coding proline/glutamine-rich secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein genes, which might have led to the loss of mineralized teeth. tbx4, a regulator of hindlimb development, is also not found in H. comes genome. Knockout of tbx4 in zebrafish showed a 'pelvic fin-loss' phenotype similar to that of seahorses.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors