Main menu

Genome of the Komodo dragon reveals adaptations in the cardiovascular and chemosensory systems of monitor lizards


Monitor lizards are unique among ectothermic reptiles in that they have high aerobic capacity and distinctive cardiovascular physiology resembling that of endothermic mammals. Here, we sequence the genome of the Komodo dragon Varanus komodoensis, the largest extant monitor lizard, and generate a high-resolution de novo chromosome-assigned genome assembly for V. komodoensis using a hybrid approach of long-range sequencing and single-molecule optical mapping. Comparing the genome of V. komodoensis with those of related species, we find evidence of positive selection in pathways related to energy metabolism, cardiovascular homoeostasis, and haemostasis. We also show species-specific expansions of a chemoreceptor gene family related to pheromone and kairomone sensing in V. komodoensis and other lizard lineages. Together, these evolutionary signatures of adaptation reveal the genetic underpinnings of the unique Komodo dragon sensory and cardiovascular systems, and suggest that selective pressure altered haemostasis genes to help Komodo dragons evade the anticoagulant effects of their own saliva. The Komodo dragon genome is an important resource for understanding the biology of monitor lizards and reptiles worldwide.

Authors: Abigail L. Lind, Yvonne Y. Y. Lai, Yulia Mostovoy, Alisha K. Holloway, Alessio Iannucci, Angel C. Y. Mak, Marco Fondi, Valerio Orlandini, Walter L. Eckalbar, Massimo Milan, Michail Rovatsos, Ilya G. Kichigin, Alex I. Makunin, Martina Johnson Pokorná, Marie Altmanová, Vladimir A. Trifonov, Elio Schijlen, Lukáš Kratochvíl, Renato Fani, Petr Velenský, Ivan Rehák, Tomaso Patarnello, Tim S. Jessop, James W. Hicks, Oliver A. Ryder, Joseph R. Mendelson III, Claudio Ciofi, Pui-Yan Kwok, Katherine S. Pollard, Benoit G. Bruneau

入门指南

购买 MinION 启动包 Nanopore 商城 测序服务提供商 全球代理商

联系我们

Intellectual property Cookie policy Corporate reporting Privacy policy Terms & conditions Accessibility

关于 Oxford Nanopore

Contact us 领导团队 媒体资源和联系方式 投资者 在 Oxford Nanopore 工作 BSI 27001 accreditationBSI 90001 accreditationBSI mark of trust
Chinese flag