How birds achieve sweet success? New paper out in Science!
- 1 day ago
- 1 min read
Title
Convergent and lineage-specific genomic changes shape adaptations in sugar-consuming birds
Abstract
High-sugar diets cause human metabolic diseases, yet several bird lineages convergently adapted to feeding on sugar-rich nectar or fruits. We investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms in hummingbirds, parrots, honeyeaters, and sunbirds by generating nine new genomes and 90 tissue-specific transcriptomes. Comparative screens revealed an excess of repeated selection in both protein-coding and regulatory sequences in sugar-feeding birds, suggesting reuse of genetic elements. Sequence or expression changes in sugar-feeders affect genes involved in blood pressure regulation and lipid, amino acid, and carbohydrate metabolism, with experiments showing functional changes in honeyeater hexokinase 3. MLXIPL, a key regulator of sugar and lipid homeostasis, showed convergent sequence and regulatory changes across all sugar-feeding clades; experiments revealed enhanced sugar-induced transcriptional activity of hummingbird MLXIPL, highlighting its adaptive role in high-sugar diets.
Photo credits:
Rainbow lorikeet © Gerald Allen (ML405234241)
New Holland honeyeater © Gerald Allen (ML315608021)
Fork-tailed sunbird © Ivan Lam
Hummingbird © Simon Sin
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