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Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution
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Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution
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Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution
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Journal Article
Adaptive loss of shortwave-sensitive opsins during cartilaginous fish evolution
2025
Overview
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.
Cartilaginous fishes lost the short-wave-sensitive (
sws
) opsin genes at some point in their evolutionary history. Here, the authors present genome assemblies of
Okamejei kenojei
(skate) and
Prionace glauca
(blue shark) that confirm
sws
loss, together with experimental evidence that
sws
loss reduces shortwave light damage to the eye.
