Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution
Abstract Cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks, rays, and skates) cannot see blue or violet light, potentially because they lack the shortwave-sensitive cone opsin gene (sws). Widespread gene loss can occur during evolution, but the evolutionary mechanisms underlying sws loss remains unclear. Here, we...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62544-w |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849226179337256960 |
|---|---|
| author | Bo Zhang Yidong Feng Meiqi Lv Lei Jia Yongguan Liao Xiaoyan Xu Axel Meyer Jinsheng Sun Guangyi Fan Yumin Li Yaolei Zhang Na Zhao Yunkai Li Baolong Bao |
| author_facet | Bo Zhang Yidong Feng Meiqi Lv Lei Jia Yongguan Liao Xiaoyan Xu Axel Meyer Jinsheng Sun Guangyi Fan Yumin Li Yaolei Zhang Na Zhao Yunkai Li Baolong Bao |
| author_sort | Bo Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks, rays, and skates) cannot see blue or violet light, potentially because they lack the shortwave-sensitive cone opsin gene (sws). Widespread gene loss can occur during evolution, but the evolutionary mechanisms underlying sws loss remains unclear. Here, we construct whole-genome assemblies of Okamejei kenojei (skate) and Prionace glauca (blue shark). We then analyze the distribution characteristics and intragroup differences of opsin-related genes in cartilaginous fishes. Using a zebrafish model with sws deleted we infer that in the presence of SWS1 and SWS2, blue and violet light respectively, can induce cell aging. This is followed by photoreceptor layer thinning, demonstrating, sws loss aids in preventing shortwave light damage to the eye. In the retinas of numerous cartilaginous fishes, the tapetum lucidum strongly reflects light. Therefore, in cartilaginous fish, the existence of tapetum lucidum in the retina and loss of sws may be interdependent; in other words, this adaptive gene loss may increase cartilaginous fish fitness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fde960674d0b4f2a99594810663b8ab1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-fde960674d0b4f2a99594810663b8ab12025-08-24T11:37:28ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-62544-wAdaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolutionBo Zhang0Yidong Feng1Meiqi Lv2Lei Jia3Yongguan Liao4Xiaoyan Xu5Axel Meyer6Jinsheng Sun7Guangyi Fan8Yumin Li9Yaolei Zhang10Na Zhao11Yunkai Li12Baolong Bao13International Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityBGI ResearchTianjin Fisheries Research InstituteInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityLehrstuhl für Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie, Department of Biology, University of KonstanzTianjin Fisheries Research InstituteState Key Laboratory of Genome and Multi-omics Technologies, BGl Research ShenzhenInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityBGI ResearchSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory-ZhanjiangInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityInternational Research Center for Marine Biosciences, Ministry of Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean UniversityAbstract Cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks, rays, and skates) cannot see blue or violet light, potentially because they lack the shortwave-sensitive cone opsin gene (sws). Widespread gene loss can occur during evolution, but the evolutionary mechanisms underlying sws loss remains unclear. Here, we construct whole-genome assemblies of Okamejei kenojei (skate) and Prionace glauca (blue shark). We then analyze the distribution characteristics and intragroup differences of opsin-related genes in cartilaginous fishes. Using a zebrafish model with sws deleted we infer that in the presence of SWS1 and SWS2, blue and violet light respectively, can induce cell aging. This is followed by photoreceptor layer thinning, demonstrating, sws loss aids in preventing shortwave light damage to the eye. In the retinas of numerous cartilaginous fishes, the tapetum lucidum strongly reflects light. Therefore, in cartilaginous fish, the existence of tapetum lucidum in the retina and loss of sws may be interdependent; in other words, this adaptive gene loss may increase cartilaginous fish fitness.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62544-w |
| spellingShingle | Bo Zhang Yidong Feng Meiqi Lv Lei Jia Yongguan Liao Xiaoyan Xu Axel Meyer Jinsheng Sun Guangyi Fan Yumin Li Yaolei Zhang Na Zhao Yunkai Li Baolong Bao Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution Nature Communications |
| title | Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| title_full | Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| title_fullStr | Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| title_short | Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| title_sort | adaptive loss of shortwave sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62544-w |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bozhang adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT yidongfeng adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT meiqilv adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT leijia adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT yongguanliao adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT xiaoyanxu adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT axelmeyer adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT jinshengsun adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT guangyifan adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT yuminli adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT yaoleizhang adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT nazhao adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT yunkaili adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution AT baolongbao adaptivelossofshortwavesensitiveopsinsduringcartilaginousfishevolution |