Camelid genomes reveal evolution and adaptation to desert environments

Huiguang Wu, Xuanmin Guang, Mohamed B. Al-Fageeh, Junwei Cao, Shengkai Pan, Huanmin Zhou (), Li Zhang, Mohammed H. Abutarboush, Yanping Xing, Zhiyuan Xie, Ali S. Alshanqeeti, Yanru Zhang, Qiulin Yao, Badr M. Al-Shomrani, Dong Zhang, Jiang Li, Manee M. Manee, Zili Yang, Linfeng Yang, Yiyi Liu, Jilin Zhang, Musaad A. Altammami, Shenyuan Wang, Lili Yu, Wenbin Zhang, Sanyang Liu, La Ba, Chunxia Liu, Xukui Yang, Fanhua Meng, Shaowei Wang, Lu Li, Erli Li, Xueqiong Li, Kaifeng Wu, Shu Zhang, Junyi Wang, Ye Yin, Huanming Yang, Abdulaziz M. Al-Swailem () and Jun Wang ()
Additional contact information
Huiguang Wu: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Xuanmin Guang: BGI-Shenzhen
Mohamed B. Al-Fageeh: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Junwei Cao: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Shengkai Pan: BGI-Shenzhen
Huanmin Zhou: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Li Zhang: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Mohammed H. Abutarboush: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Yanping Xing: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Zhiyuan Xie: BGI-Shenzhen
Ali S. Alshanqeeti: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Yanru Zhang: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Qiulin Yao: BGI-Shenzhen
Badr M. Al-Shomrani: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Dong Zhang: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Jiang Li: BGI-Shenzhen
Manee M. Manee: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Zili Yang: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Linfeng Yang: BGI-Shenzhen
Yiyi Liu: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Jilin Zhang: BGI-Shenzhen
Musaad A. Altammami: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Shenyuan Wang: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Lili Yu: BGI-Shenzhen
Wenbin Zhang: Institute of Bactrian Camels, Alxa League 750306, Inner Mongolia, China
Sanyang Liu: BGI-Shenzhen
La Ba: Institute of Bactrian Camels, Alxa League 750306, Inner Mongolia, China
Chunxia Liu: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Xukui Yang: BGI-Shenzhen
Fanhua Meng: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Shaowei Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Lu Li: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Erli Li: BGI-Shenzhen
Xueqiong Li: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Kaifeng Wu: College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University
Shu Zhang: BGI-Shenzhen
Junyi Wang: BGI-Shenzhen
Ye Yin: BGI-Shenzhen
Huanming Yang: BGI-Shenzhen
Abdulaziz M. Al-Swailem: National Centre for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
Jun Wang: BGI-Shenzhen

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) and alpaca (Vicugna pacos) are economically important livestock. Although the Bactrian camel and dromedary are large, typically arid-desert-adapted mammals, alpacas are adapted to plateaus. Here we present high-quality genome sequences of these three species. Our analysis reveals the demographic history of these species since the Tortonian Stage of the Miocene and uncovers a striking correlation between large fluctuations in population size and geological time boundaries. Comparative genomic analysis reveals complex features related to desert adaptations, including fat and water metabolism, stress responses to heat, aridity, intense ultraviolet radiation and choking dust. Transcriptomic analysis of Bactrian camels further reveals unique osmoregulation, osmoprotection and compensatory mechanisms for water reservation underpinned by high blood glucose levels. We hypothesize that these physiological mechanisms represent kidney evolutionary adaptations to the desert environment. This study advances our understanding of camelid evolution and the adaptation of camels to arid-desert environments.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6188

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