The Analysis of Reproduction-related Genes Provides Insights into the Adaptive Evolution of Fecundity Traits in Yangtze Finless Porpoise

Background: Yangtze finless porpoise (YFP, Neophocaena asiaeorientalis), is the first class protected animal in China. In order to analyze the adaptive evolution of fecundity traits in YFP, the rapidly evolving gene families of YFP were obtained. At the same time, the major genes controlling ovulation, GDF9, BMP15, FSH beta and FSHR were also analyzed. Methods: Orthofinder software was employed to search homologous genes based on protein sequence. CAFE software was used to obtain the expansion and contraction gene families of YFP. Then, GO terms and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using TBtools software and Swissprot database. PAML package was used to calculate Ka/Ks (i.e., omega). Evolution rate changes in the positive selected genes were examined using the GU99 process in Diverge (v3.0) program. Result: In YFP, 501 rapid expansion gene families GO enrichment results showed that the reproductive activities related pathways were mainly three significant enrichment process, participation of germline stem cells maintain androgen receptors signaling pathways regulating and male reproductive tract stem cell population to maintain. The most significant GO terms of 220 rapidly contraction gene families associated with reproductive activities mainly consisted of biological processes which were involved in positive regulation of estrogen secretion, mating and estrogen metabolic process. GDF9 and BMP15 genes exhibited purifying selection. However, significant signs of positive selection were detected in FSHR and FSH beta genes, but only FSH beta showed specific changes in the YFP lineage.