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Seldeslachts A, Maurstad MF, Øyen JP, Undheim EAB, Peigneur S, Tytgat J. Exploring oak processionary caterpillar induced lepidopterism (Part 1): unveiling molecular insights through transcriptomics and proteomics. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:311. [PMID: 39066932 PMCID: PMC11335235 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05330-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Lepidopterism, a skin inflammation condition caused by direct or airborne exposure to irritating hairs (setae) from processionary caterpillars, is becoming a significant public health concern. Recent outbreaks of the oak processionary caterpillar (Thaumetopoea processionea) have caused noteworthy health and economic consequences, with a rising frequency expected in the future, exacerbated by global warming promoting the survival of the caterpillar. Current medical treatments focus on symptom relief due to the lack of an effective therapy. While the source is known, understanding the precise causes of symptoms remain incomplete understood. In this study, we employed an advanced method to extract venom from the setae and identify the venom components through high-quality de novo transcriptomics, venom proteomics, and bioinformatic analysis. A total of 171 venom components were identified, including allergens, odorant binding proteins, small peptides, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, and chitin biosynthesis products, potentially responsible for inflammatory and allergic reactions. This work presents the first comprehensive proteotranscriptomic database of T. processionea, contributing to understanding the complexity of lepidopterism. Furthermore, these findings hold promise for advancing therapeutic approaches to mitigate the global health impact of T. processionea and related caterpillars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Seldeslachts
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven , Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium
| | - Marius F Maurstad
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Philip Øyen
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of biotechnology and plant health & viruses, bacteria and nematodes in forestry, agriculture and horticulture, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven , Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, Department Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven , Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium.
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2
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Yano Y, Fukuoka R, Maturana AD, Ohdachi SD, Kita M. Mammalian neurotoxins, Blarina paralytic peptides, cause hyperpolarization of human T-type Ca channel hCa v3.2 activation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105066. [PMID: 37468103 PMCID: PMC10493266 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Among the rare venomous mammals, the short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda has been suggested to produce potent neurotoxins in its saliva to effectively capture prey. Several kallikrein-like lethal proteases have been identified, but the active substances of B. brevicauda remained unclear. Here, we report Blarina paralytic peptides (BPPs) 1 and 2 isolated from its submaxillary glands. Synthetic BPP2 showed mealworm paralysis and a hyperpolarization shift (-11 mV) of a human T-type Ca2+ channel (hCav3.2) activation. The amino acid sequences of BPPs were similar to those of synenkephalins, which are precursors of brain opioid peptide hormones that are highly conserved among mammals. However, BPPs rather resembled centipede neurotoxic peptides SLPTXs in terms of disulfide bond connectivity and stereostructure. Our results suggested that the neurotoxin BPPs were the result of convergent evolution as homologs of nontoxic endogenous peptides that are widely conserved in mammals. This finding is of great interest from the viewpoint of the chemical evolution of vertebrate venoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Yano
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryo Fukuoka
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Andres D Maturana
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Satoshi D Ohdachi
- Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Masaki Kita
- Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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3
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The Evolution of Viviparity in Vertebrates. ADVANCES IN ANATOMY, EMBRYOLOGY, AND CELL BIOLOGY 2022; 234:7-19. [PMID: 34694475 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77360-1_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
In the vertebrate tree of life, viviparity or live birth has independently evolved many times, resulting in a rich diversity of reproductive strategies. Viviparity is believed to be a mode of reproduction that evolved from the ancestral condition of oviparity or egg laying, where most of the fetal development occurs outside the body. Today, there is not a simple model of parity transition to explain this species-specific divergence in modes of reproduction. Most evidence points to a gradual series of evolutionary adaptations that account for this phenomenon of reproduction, elegantly displayed by various viviparous squamates that exhibit placentae formed by the appositions of maternal and embryonic tissues, which share significant homology with the tissues that form the placenta in therian mammals. In an era where the genomes of many vertebrate species are becoming available, studies are now exploring the molecular basis of this transition from oviparity to viviparity, and in some rare instances its possible reversibility, such as the Australian three-toed skink (Saiphos equalis). In contrast to the parity diversity in squamates, mammals are viviparous with the notable exception of the egg-laying monotremes. Advancing computational tools coupled with increasing genome availability across species that utilize different reproductive strategies promise to reveal the molecular underpinnings of the ancestral transition of oviparity to viviparity. As a result, the dramatic changes in reproductive physiology and anatomy that accompany these parity changes can be reinterpreted. This chapter will briefly explore the vertebrate modes of reproduction using a phylogenetic framework and where possible highlight the role of potential candidate genes that may help explain the polygenic origins of live birth.
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Venom Use in Eulipotyphlans: An Evolutionary and Ecological Approach. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13030231. [PMID: 33810196 PMCID: PMC8004749 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13030231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Venomousness is a complex functional trait that has evolved independently many times in the animal kingdom, although it is rare among mammals. Intriguingly, most venomous mammal species belong to Eulipotyphla (solenodons, shrews). This fact may be linked to their high metabolic rate and a nearly continuous demand of nutritious food, and thus it relates the venom functions to facilitation of their efficient foraging. While mammalian venoms have been investigated using biochemical and molecular assays, studies of their ecological functions have been neglected for a long time. Therefore, we provide here an overview of what is currently known about eulipotyphlan venoms, followed by a discussion of how these venoms might have evolved under ecological pressures related to food acquisition, ecological interactions, and defense and protection. We delineate six mutually nonexclusive functions of venom (prey hunting, food hoarding, food digestion, reducing intra- and interspecific conflicts, avoidance of predation risk, weapons in intraspecific competition) and a number of different subfunctions for eulipotyphlans, among which some are so far only hypothetical while others have some empirical confirmation. The functions resulting from the need for food acquisition seem to be the most important for solenodons and especially for shrews. We also present several hypotheses explaining why, despite so many potentially beneficial functions, venomousness is rare even among eulipotyphlans. The tentativeness of many of the arguments presented in this review highlights our main conclusion, i.e., insights regarding the functions of eulipotyphlan venoms merit additional study.
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Surm JM, Moran Y. Insights into how development and life-history dynamics shape the evolution of venom. EvoDevo 2021; 12:1. [PMID: 33413660 PMCID: PMC7791878 DOI: 10.1186/s13227-020-00171-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Venomous animals are a striking example of the convergent evolution of a complex trait. These animals have independently evolved an apparatus that synthesizes, stores, and secretes a mixture of toxic compounds to the target animal through the infliction of a wound. Among these distantly related animals, some can modulate and compartmentalize functionally distinct venoms related to predation and defense. A process to separate distinct venoms can occur within and across complex life cycles as well as more streamlined ontogenies, depending on their life-history requirements. Moreover, the morphological and cellular complexity of the venom apparatus likely facilitates the functional diversity of venom deployed within a given life stage. Intersexual variation of venoms has also evolved further contributing to the massive diversity of toxic compounds characterized in these animals. These changes in the biochemical phenotype of venom can directly affect the fitness of these animals, having important implications in their diet, behavior, and mating biology. In this review, we explore the current literature that is unraveling the temporal dynamics of the venom system that are required by these animals to meet their ecological functions. These recent findings have important consequences in understanding the evolution and development of a convergent complex trait and its organismal and ecological implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim M Surm
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Yehu Moran
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 9190401, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Gu SX, Wang HF, Zhu YY, Chen FE. Natural Occurrence, Biological Functions, and Analysis of D-Amino Acids. PHARMACEUTICAL FRONTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1713820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractThis review covers the recent development on the natural occurrence, functional elucidations, and analysis of amino acids of the D (dextro) configuration. In the pharmaceutical field, amino acids are not only used directly as clinical drugs and nutriments, but also widely applied as starting materials, catalysts, or chiral ligands for the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients. Earler belief hold that only L-amino acids exist in nature and D-amino acids were artificial products. However, increasing evidence indicates that D-amino acids are naturally occurring in living organisms including human beings, plants, and microorganisms, playing important roles in biological processes. While D-amino acids have similar physical and chemical characteristics with their respective L-enantiomers in an achiral measurement, the biological functions of D-amino acids are remarkably different from those of L-ones. With the rapid development of chiral analytical techniques for D-amino acids, studies on the existence, formation mechanisms, biological functions as well as relevant physiology and pathology of D-amino acids have achieved great progress; however, they are far from being sufficiently explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Xi Gu
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering & Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hai-Feng Wang
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering & Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zhu
- School of Chemistry & Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fen-Er Chen
- Pharmaceutical Research Institute, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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Grishin DV, Zhdanov DD, Pokrovskaya MV, Sokolov NN. D-amino acids in nature, agriculture and biomedicine. ALL LIFE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21553769.2019.1622596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - D. D. Zhdanov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
- Peoples Friendship University of Russia, Moscow, Russia
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8
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Kowalski K, Rychlik L. The role of venom in the hunting and hoarding of prey differing in body size by the Eurasian water shrew, Neomys fodiens. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kowalski
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska, Poznań, Poland
| | - Leszek Rychlik
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska, Poznań, Poland
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9
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Miyamoto T, Homma H. Detection and quantification of d-amino acid residues in peptides and proteins using acid hydrolysis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2017; 1866:775-782. [PMID: 29292238 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2017.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular homochirality refers to the assumption that amino acids in all living organisms were believed to be of the l-configuration. However, free d-amino acids are present in a wide variety of organisms and d-amino acid residues are also found in various peptides and proteins, being generated by enzymatic or non-enzymatic isomerization. In mammals, peptides and proteins containing d-amino acids have been linked to various diseases, and they act as novel disease biomarkers. Analytical methods capable of precisely detecting and quantifying d-amino acids in peptides and proteins are therefore important and useful, albeit their difficulty and complexity. Herein, we reviewed conventional analytical methods, especially 0h extrapolating method, and the problems of this method. For the solution of these problems, we furthermore described our recently developed, sensitive method, deuterium-hydrogen exchange method, to detect innate d-amino acid residues in peptides and proteins, and its applications to sample ovalbumin. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: d-Amino acids: biology in the mirror, edited by Dr. Loredano Pollegioni, Dr. Jean-Pierre Mothet and Dr. Molla Gianluca.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Miyamoto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Homma
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.
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10
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Arbuckle K. Evolutionary Context of Venom in Animals. EVOLUTION OF VENOMOUS ANIMALS AND THEIR TOXINS 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-6458-3_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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11
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Miyamoto T, Sekine M, Ogawa T, Hidaka M, Watanabe H, Homma H, Masaki H. Detection of diastereomer peptides as the intermediates generating d-amino acids during acid hydrolysis of peptides. Amino Acids 2016; 48:2683-2692. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-016-2304-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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12
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Harris RJ, Arbuckle K. Tempo and Mode of the Evolution of Venom and Poison in Tetrapods. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8070193. [PMID: 27348001 PMCID: PMC4963826 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8070193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxic weaponry in the form of venom and poison has evolved in most groups of animals, including all four major lineages of tetrapods. Moreover, the evolution of such traits has been linked to several key aspects of the biology of toxic animals including life-history and diversification. Despite this, attempts to investigate the macroevolutionary patterns underlying such weaponry are lacking. In this study we analyse patterns of venom and poison evolution across reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and birds using a suite of phylogenetic comparative methods. We find that each major lineage has a characteristic pattern of trait evolution, but mammals and reptiles evolve under a surprisingly similar regime, whilst that of amphibians appears to be particularly distinct and highly contrasting compared to other groups. Our results also suggest that the mechanism of toxin acquisition may be an important distinction in such evolutionary patterns; the evolution of biosynthesis is far less dynamic than that of sequestration of toxins from the diet. Finally, contrary to the situation in amphibians, other tetrapod groups show an association between the evolution of toxic weaponry and higher diversification rates. Taken together, our study provides the first broad-scale analysis of macroevolutionary patterns of venom and poison throughout tetrapods.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Arbuckle
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
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13
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Goyffon M, Saul F, Faure G. [Relationships between venomous function and innate immune function]. Biol Aujourdhui 2016; 209:195-210. [PMID: 26820828 DOI: 10.1051/jbio/2015018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Venomous function is investigated in relation to innate immune function in two cases selected from scorpion venom and serpent venom. In the first case, structural analysis of scorpion toxins and defensins reveals a close interrelation between both functions (toxic and innate immune system function). In the second case, structural and functional studies of natural inhibitors of toxic snake venom phospholipases A2 reveal homology with components of the innate immune system, leading to a similar conclusion. Although there is a clear functional distinction between neurotoxins, which act by targeting membrane ion channels, and the circulating defensins which protect the organism from pathogens, the scorpion short toxins and defensins share a common protein folding scaffold with a conserved cysteine-stabilized alpha-beta motif of three disulfide bridges linking a short alpha helix and an antiparallel beta sheet. Genomic analysis suggests that these proteins share a common ancestor (long venom toxins were separated from an early gene family which gave rise to separate short toxin and defensin families). Furthermore, a scorpion toxin has been experimentally synthetized from an insect defensin, and an antibacterial scorpion peptide, androctonin (whose structure is similar to that of a cone snail venom toxin), was shown to have a similar high affinity for the postsynaptic acetylcholine receptor of Torpedo sp. Natural inhibitors of phospholipase A2 found in the blood of snakes are associated with the resistance of venomous snakes to their own highly neurotoxic venom proteins. Three classes of phospholipases A2 inhibitors (PLI-α, PLI-β, PLI-γ) have been identified. These inhibitors display diverse structural motifs related to innate immune proteins including carbohydrate recognition domains (CRD), leucine rich repeat domains (found in Toll-like receptors) and three finger domains, which clearly differentiate them from components of the adaptive immune system. Thus, in structure, function and phylogeny, venomous function in both vertebrates and invertebrates are clearly interrelated with innate immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Goyffon
- UMR CNRS 7245, Département RDDM, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Frederick Saul
- Institut Pasteur, Plate-forme de Cristallographie, CNRS-UMR 3528, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Grazyna Faure
- Institut Pasteur, Unité Récepteurs-Canaux, CNRS-UMR 3571, 25 rue du Docteur Roux, 75015 Paris, France
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14
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Plikus MV, Astrowski AA. Deadly hairs, lethal feathers--convergent evolution of poisonous integument in mammals and birds. Exp Dermatol 2015; 23:466-8. [PMID: 24698054 DOI: 10.1111/exd.12408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hairs and feathers are textbook examples of the convergent evolution of the follicular appendage structure between mammals and birds. While broadly recognized for their convergent thermoregulatory, camouflage and sexual display functions, hairs and feathers are rarely thought of as deadly defence tools. Several recent studies, however, show that in some species of mammals and birds, the integument can, in fact, be a de facto lethal weapon. One mammalian example is provided by African crested rats, which seek for and chew on the bark of plants containing the highly potent toxin, ouabain. These rats then coat their fur with ouabain-containing saliva. For efficient toxin retention, the rodents have evolved highly specialized fenestrated and mostly hollow hair shafts that soak up liquids, which essentially function as wicks. On the avian side of the vertebrate integumental variety spectrum, several species of birds of New Guinea have evolved resistance to highly potent batrachotoxins, which they acquire from their insect diet. While the mechanism of bird toxicity remains obscure, in a recently published issue of the journal, Dumbacher and Menon explore the intriguing idea that to achieve efficient storage of batrachotoxins in their skin, some birds exploit the basic permeability barrier function of their epidermis. Batrachotoxins become preferentially sequestered in their epidermis and are then transferred to feathers, likely through the exploitation of specialized avian lipid-storing multigranular body organelles. Here, we discuss wider implications of this intriguing concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksim V Plikus
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
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15
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16
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Whittington CM, Belov K. Tracing monotreme venom evolution in the genomics era. Toxins (Basel) 2014; 6:1260-73. [PMID: 24699339 PMCID: PMC4014732 DOI: 10.3390/toxins6041260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The monotremes (platypuses and echidnas) represent one of only four extant venomous mammalian lineages. Until recently, monotreme venom was poorly understood. However, the availability of the platypus genome and increasingly sophisticated genomic tools has allowed us to characterize platypus toxins, and provides a means of reconstructing the evolutionary history of monotreme venom. Here we review the physiology of platypus and echidna crural (venom) systems as well as pharmacological and genomic studies of monotreme toxins. Further, we synthesize current ideas about the evolution of the venom system, which in the platypus is likely to have been retained from a venomous ancestor, whilst being lost in the echidnas. We also outline several research directions and outstanding questions that would be productive to address in future research. An improved characterization of mammalian venoms will not only yield new toxins with potential therapeutic uses, but will also aid in our understanding of the way that this unusual trait evolves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla M Whittington
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - Katherine Belov
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Abstract
Cnidaria is a rich phylum that includes thousands of marine species. In this study, we focused on Anthozoa and Hydrozoa that are represented by the Nematostella vectensis (Sea anemone) and Hydra magnipapillata genomes. We present a method for ranking the toxin-like candidates from complete proteomes of Cnidaria. Toxin-like functions were revealed using ClanTox, a statistical machine-learning predictor trained on ion channel inhibitors from venomous animals. Fundamental features that were emphasized in training ClanTox include cysteines and their spacing along the sequences. Among the 83,000 proteins derived from Cnidaria representatives, we found 170 candidates that fulfill the properties of toxin-like-proteins, the vast majority of which were previously unrecognized as toxins. An additional 394 short proteins exhibit characteristics of toxin-like proteins at a moderate degree of confidence. Remarkably, only 11% of the predicted toxin-like proteins were previously classified as toxins. Based on our prediction methodology and manual annotation, we inferred functions for over 400 of these proteins. Such functions include protease inhibitors, membrane pore formation, ion channel blockers and metal binding proteins. Many of the proteins belong to small families of paralogs. We conclude that the evolutionary expansion of toxin-like proteins in Cnidaria contributes to their fitness in the complex environment of the aquatic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitshak Tirosh
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel; (Y.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Itai Linial
- The Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel;
| | - Manor Askenazi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel; (Y.T.); (M.A.)
| | - Michal Linial
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel; (Y.T.); (M.A.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; ; Tel.: +972-2-658-5425; Fax: +972-2-658-6448
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18
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Kita M. Bioorganic Studies on the Key Natural Products from Venomous Mammals and Marine Invertebrates. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2012. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.20120198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Kita
- Division of Chemistry, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba
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MacManes MD, Lacey EA. The social brain: transcriptome assembly and characterization of the hippocampus from a social subterranean rodent, the colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis). PLoS One 2012; 7:e45524. [PMID: 23049809 PMCID: PMC3458066 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0045524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidating the genetic mechanisms that underlie complex adaptive phenotypes is a central problem in evolutionary biology. For behavioral biologists, the ability to link variation in gene expression to the occurrence of specific behavioral traits has long been a largely unobtainable goal. Social interactions with conspecifics represent a fundamental component of the behavior of most animal species. Although several studies of mammals have attempted to uncover the genetic bases for social relationships using a candidate gene approach, none have attempted more comprehensive, transcriptome-based analyses using high throughout sequencing. As a first step toward improved understanding of the genetic underpinnings of mammalian sociality, we generated a reference transcriptome for the colonial tuco-tuco (Ctenomys sociabilis), a social species of subterranean rodent that is endemic to southwestern Argentina. Specifically, we analyzed over 500 million Illumina sequencing reads derived from the hippocampi of 10 colonial tuco-tucos housed in captivity under a variety of social conditions. The resulting reference transcriptome provides a critical tool for future studies aimed at exploring relationships between social environment and gene expression in this non-model species of social mammal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D MacManes
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.
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Ligabue-Braun R, Verli H, Carlini CR. Venomous mammals: a review. Toxicon 2012; 59:680-95. [PMID: 22410495 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2011] [Revised: 01/19/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence of venom in mammals has long been considered of minor importance, but recent fossil discoveries and advances in experimental techniques have cast new light into this subject. Mammalian venoms form a heterogeneous group having different compositions and modes of action and are present in three classes of mammals, Insectivora, Monotremata, and Chiroptera. A fourth order, Primates, is proposed to have venomous representatives. In this review we highlight recent advances in the field while summarizing biochemical characteristics of these secretions and their effects upon humans and other animals. Historical aspects of venom discovery and evolutionary hypothesis regarding their origin are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Ligabue-Braun
- Graduate Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center of Biotechnology, Department of Biophysics-IB, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Wong ES, Belov K. Venom evolution through gene duplications. Gene 2012; 496:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Revised: 01/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Wong ESW, Papenfuss AT, Whittington CM, Warren WC, Belov K. A limited role for gene duplications in the evolution of platypus venom. Mol Biol Evol 2011; 29:167-77. [PMID: 21816864 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msr180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene duplication followed by adaptive selection is believed to be the primary driver of venom evolution. However, to date, no studies have evaluated the importance of gene duplications for venom evolution using a genomic approach. The availability of a sequenced genome and a venom gland transcriptome for the enigmatic platypus provides a unique opportunity to explore the role that gene duplication plays in venom evolution. Here, we identify gene duplication events and correlate them with expressed transcripts in an in-season venom gland. Gene duplicates (1,508) were identified. These duplicated pairs (421), including genes that have undergone multiple rounds of gene duplications, were expressed in the venom gland. The majority of these genes are involved in metabolism and protein synthesis not toxin functions. Twelve secretory genes including serine proteases, metalloproteinases, and protease inhibitors likely to produce symptoms of envenomation such as vasodilation and pain were detected. Only 16 of 107 platypus genes with high similarity to known toxins evolved through gene duplication. Platypus venom C-type natriuretic peptides and nerve growth factor do not possess lineage-specific gene duplicates. Extensive duplications, believed to increase the potency of toxic content and promote toxin diversification, were not found. This is the first study to take a genome-wide approach in order to examine the impact of gene duplication on venom evolution. Our findings support the idea that adaptive selection acts on gene duplicates to drive the independent evolution and functional diversification of similar venom genes in venomous species. However, gene duplications alone do not explain the "venome" of the platypus. Other mechanisms, such as alternative splicing and mutation, may be important in venom innovation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S W Wong
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Experimental strategies for the analysis of D-amino acid containing peptides in crustaceans: a review. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2011; 879:3102-7. [PMID: 21497143 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2011.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2010] [Revised: 03/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Detection of D-amino acids in natural peptides has been, and remains a challenging task, as peptidyl isomerization is a peculiar and subtle posttranslational modification that does not induce any change in primary sequence or in physicochemical properties of the molecule such as molecular mass or pI. Therefore, the presence of a D-amino acid residue in a peptide chain is generally transparent to classical methods of peptide analysis (electrophoresis, chromatography, mass spectrometry, molecular biology). In this article, we will review the various experimental strategies and analytical techniques, which have been used to characterize and to study D-amino acid containing peptides in crustaceans.
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Whittington CM, Papenfuss AT, Locke DP, Mardis ER, Wilson RK, Abubucker S, Mitreva M, Wong ESW, Hsu AL, Kuchel PW, Belov K, Warren WC. Novel venom gene discovery in the platypus. Genome Biol 2010; 11:R95. [PMID: 20920228 PMCID: PMC2965387 DOI: 10.1186/gb-2010-11-9-r95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2010] [Revised: 04/05/2010] [Accepted: 09/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, few peptides in the complex mixture of platypus venom have been identified and sequenced, in part due to the limited amounts of platypus venom available to study. We have constructed and sequenced a cDNA library from an active platypus venom gland to identify the remaining components. RESULTS We identified 83 novel putative platypus venom genes from 13 toxin families, which are homologous to known toxins from a wide range of vertebrates (fish, reptiles, insectivores) and invertebrates (spiders, sea anemones, starfish). A number of these are expressed in tissues other than the venom gland, and at least three of these families (those with homology to toxins from distant invertebrates) may play non-toxin roles. Thus, further functional testing is required to confirm venom activity. However, the presence of similar putative toxins in such widely divergent species provides further evidence for the hypothesis that there are certain protein families that are selected preferentially during evolution to become venom peptides. We have also used homology with known proteins to speculate on the contributions of each venom component to the symptoms of platypus envenomation. CONCLUSIONS This study represents a step towards fully characterizing the first mammal venom transcriptome. We have found similarities between putative platypus toxins and those of a number of unrelated species, providing insight into the evolution of mammalian venom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla M Whittington
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Regimental Crescent, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Gremski LH, da Silveira RB, Chaim OM, Probst CM, Ferrer VP, Nowatzki J, Weinschutz HC, Madeira HM, Gremski W, Nader HB, Senff-Ribeiro A, Veiga SS. A novel expression profile of the Loxosceles intermedia spider venomous gland revealed by transcriptome analysis. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2010; 6:2403-16. [PMID: 20644878 DOI: 10.1039/c004118a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spiders of the Loxosceles genus are cosmopolitan, and their venom components possess remarkable biological properties associated with their ability to act upon different molecules and receptors. Accidents with Loxosceles intermedia specimens are recognized as a public health problem in the south of Brazil. To describe the transcriptional profile of the L. intermedia venom gland, we generated a wide cDNA library, and its transcripts were functionally and structurally analyzed. After initial analyses, 1843 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) produced readable sequences that were grouped into 538 clusters, 281 of which were singletons. 985 reads (53% of total ESTs) matched to known proteins. Similarity searches showed that toxin-encoding transcripts account for 43% of the total library and comprise a great number of ESTs. The most frequent toxins were from the LiTx family, which are known for their insecticidal activity. Both phospholipase D and astacin-like metalloproteases toxins account for approximately 9% of total transcripts. Toxins components such as serine proteases, hyaluronidases and venom allergens were also found but with minor representation. Almost 10% of the ESTs encode for proteins involved in cellular processes. These data provide an important overview of the L. intermedia venom gland expression scenario and revealed significant differences from profiles of other spiders from the Loxosceles genus. Furthermore, our results also confirm that this venom constitutes an amazing source of novel compounds with potential agrochemical, industrial and pharmacological applications.
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Miyamoto T, Sekine M, Ogawa T, Hidaka M, Homma H, Masaki H. Generation of Enantiomeric Amino Acids during Acid Hydrolysis of Peptides Detected by the Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectroscopy. Chem Biodivers 2010; 7:1644-50. [DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.200900309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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Abstract
The monotremes (the echidnas and the platypus) display both mammalian and reptilian features. Male monotremes have a bilateral crural gland that is connected via a duct to a spur on each hind limb. Male echidnas appear not to use their spurs as weapons in aggressive acts, but the crural system may have a role in reproductive behaviour because it appears only to be active during the breeding season. The secretions produced by the echidna’s crural gland have not hitherto been biochemically or pharmacologically characterised. We used reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) to separate the components of echidna venom and compared the chromatograms with those from platypus venom. The echidna venom appears to contain fewer proteins and peptides than platypus venom; however, it appears to have defensin-like peptides that behave similarly on RP-HPLC to those in platypus venom. Like platypus venom, echidna venom has peptidyl aminoacyl l/d-peptide isomerase activity. An RP-HPLC-based assay showed that the second amino acid residue, of a probe synthetic hexapeptide, was converted into the d-form, when incubated with echidna venom.
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Kita M, Black DS, Ohno O, Yamada K, Kigoshi H, Uemura D. Duck-Billed Platypus Venom Peptides Induce Ca2+ Influx in Neuroblastoma Cells. J Am Chem Soc 2009; 131:18038-9. [DOI: 10.1021/ja908148z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Kita
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - David StC. Black
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Osamu Ohno
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Kaoru Yamada
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Hideo Kigoshi
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
| | - Daisuke Uemura
- Graduate School of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan, School of Chemistry, The University of New South Wales, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, Department of Biosciences and Informatics, Keio University, Hiyoshi 3-14-1, Yokohama 223-8522, Japan, and Institute for Advanced Research, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
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Detection of d-amino acids in purified proteins synthesized in Escherichia coli. Amino Acids 2009; 38:1377-85. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-009-0348-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2009] [Accepted: 09/09/2009] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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Calvete JJ. Venomics: Digging into the evolution of venomous systems and learning to twist nature to fight pathology. J Proteomics 2009; 72:121-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2009.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2009] [Accepted: 01/19/2009] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Abstract
The venom of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has been poorly studied to date. The recent publication of the platypus genome heralds a new era for mammalian venom research and is a useful starting tool for functional studies of venom components. We report here the patterns of tissue expression of two venom genes, OvNGF and OvCNP, in order to provide some insight into the functions of the proteins they produce and to pave the way for further functional and pharmacological studies, which may lead to the development of novel therapeutic agents.
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Abstract
Over two centuries after the first platypus specimen stirred the scientific community in Europe, the whole-genome sequence of the duck-billed platypus has been completed and is publicly available. After publication of eutherian and marsupial genomes, this is the first genome of a monotreme filling an important evolutionary gap between the divergence of birds more that 300 million years ago and marsupials more than 140 million years ago. Monotremes represent the most basal surviving branch of mammals and the platypus genome sequence allows unprecedented insights into the evolution of mammals and the fascinating biology of the egg-laying mammals. Here, we discuss some of the key findings of the analysis of the platypus genome and point to new findings and future research directions, which illustrate the broad impact of the platypus genome project for understanding monotreme biology and mammalian genome evolution.
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