Whole-genome sequencing of the snub-nosed monkey provides insights into folivory and evolutionary history

Citations Over TimeTop 10% of 2014 papers

Abstract

Colobines are a unique group of Old World monkeys that principally eat leaves and seeds rather than fruits and insects. We report the sequencing at 146× coverage, de novo assembly and analyses of the genome of a male golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) and resequencing at 30× coverage of three related species (Rhinopithecus bieti, Rhinopithecus brelichi and Rhinopithecus strykeri). Comparative analyses showed that Asian colobines have an enhanced ability to derive energy from fatty acids and to degrade xenobiotics. We found evidence for functional evolution in the colobine RNASE1 gene, encoding a key secretory RNase that digests the high concentrations of bacterial RNA derived from symbiotic microflora. Demographic reconstructions indicated that the profile of ancient effective population sizes for R. roxellana more closely resembles that of giant panda rather than its congeners. These findings offer new insights into the dietary adaptations and evolutionary history of colobine primates.

Related Papers

• → EFFECT OF THE NEMATODE PHASMARHABDITIS HERMAPHRODITA ON YOUNGSTAGES OF THE PEST SLUG ARION LUSITANICUS(2002)40 cited
• → Cloning and Characterization of Rat BAT3 cDNA(1999)20 cited
• → Anthoxanthum Mosaic Virus(1970)6 cited
• → HLA-B-associated transcript 3 (Bat3)/Scythe is essential for p300-mediated acetylation of p53(2007)127 cited
• → Ecological and evolutionary importance of neighbors in the grass Anthoxanthum odoratum(1990)20 cited