Genomic analysis of snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus) identifies genes and processes related to high-altitude adaptation

• DOI: 10.1038/ng.3615
• Publication Date: 2016-07-12T12:56:41Z
• Authors: Li Yu; Guo-Dong Wang; Jue Ruan; Yong-Bin Chen; Cui-Ping Yang; Xue Cao; Hong Wu; Yan-Hu Liu; Zheng-Lin Du; Xiao-Ping Wang; Jing Yang; Shao-Chen Cheng; Li Zhong; Lu Wang; Xuan Wang; Jing-Yang Hu; Lu Fang; Bing Bai; Kai-Le Wang; Na Yuan; Shi-Fang Wu; Bao-Guo Li; Jin-Guo Zhang; Ye-Qin Yang; Cheng-Lin Zhang; Yong-Cheng Long; Hai-Shu Li; Jing-Yuan Yang; David M Irwin; Oliver A Ryder; Ying Li; Chung-I Wu; Ya-Ping Zhang
• Keywords: Genetic Markers; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Genome; Colobinae; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; Animals; Amino Acid Sequence; Genomics; 15. Life on land; Adaptation, Physiological; Phylogeny

The snub-nosed monkey genus Rhinopithecus includes five closely related species distributed across altitudinal gradients from 800 to 4,500 m. bieti, roxellana, and strykeri inhabit high-altitude habitats, whereas brelichi avunculus lowland regions. We report the de novo whole-genome sequence of R. bieti genomic sequences for four other species. Eight shared substitutions were found in six genes lung function, DNA repair, angiogenesis monkeys. Functional assays showed that variant CDT1 (Ala537Val) renders cells more resistant UV irradiation, variants RNASE4 (Asn89Lys Thr128Ile) confer enhanced ability induce endothelial tube formation vitro. Genomic scans roxellana populations identified signatures selection between within at involved functions relevant adaptation. These results provide valuable insights into adaptation high altitude