Work

The proportion of genes in a functional category is linked to mass-specific metabolic rate and lifespan

Year: 2015

Type: article

Abstract: Metabolic rate and lifespan are important biological parameters that are studied in a wide range of research fields. They are known to correlate with body mass, but their association with gene (protein) functions is poorly understood. In this study, we collected data on the metabolic rate and lifespan of various organisms and investigated the relationship of these parameters with their genomes. We showed that the proportion of genes in a functional category, but not genome size, was correlated with mass-specific metabolic rate and maximal lifespan. In particular, the proportion of genes in oxic reactions (which occur in the presence of oxygen) was significantly associated with these two biological parameters. Additionally, we found that temperature, taxonomy, and mode-of-life traits had little effect on the observed associations. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering the biological functions of genes when investigating the relationships between genome, metabolic rate, and lifespan. Moreover, this provides further insights into these relationships, and may be useful for estimating metabolic rate and lifespan in individuals and the ecosystem using a combination of body mass measurements and genomic data.

Source: Scientific Reports

DOI: 10.1038/srep10008

Authors: Kazuhiro Takemoto, Yuko Kawakami

Institution: Kyushu Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Physiological and biochemical adaptations

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,690

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Fellowships for Young International Scientists