Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes shape adaptations in sugar-consuming birds - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #sugar-metabolism
- #genomics
- #adaptation
- Several bird lineages, including hummingbirds, parrots, honeyeaters, and sunbirds, have adapted to high-sugar diets despite such diets causing metabolic diseases in humans.
- Comparative genomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed repeated selection in protein-coding and regulatory sequences in sugar-feeding birds, indicating reuse of genetic elements.
- Adaptations involve changes in genes related to blood pressure regulation, lipid, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism, with functional changes observed in honeyeater hexokinase 3.
- MLXIPL, a regulator of sugar and lipid homeostasis, showed convergent sequence and regulatory changes across all sugar-feeding clades, with enhanced sugar-induced transcriptional activity in hummingbirds.