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Yamashita T, Rhoads DD, Pummill J. A robust genome assembly with transcriptomic data from the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2024:jkae120. [PMID: 38885085 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkae120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Scorpions, a seemingly primitive, stinging arthropod taxa, are known to exhibit marked diversity in their venom components. These venoms are known for their human pathology, but they are also important as models for therapeutic and drug development applications. In this study, we report a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, created with several shotgun libraries. The final assembly is 760 Mb in size, with a BUSCO score of 97.8%, a 30.85% GC, and an N50 of 2.35 Mb. We estimated 36,189 proteins with 37.32% assigned to Gene Ontology (GO) terms in our GO annotation analysis. We mapped venom toxin genes to 18 contigs and 2 scaffolds. We were also able to identify expression differences between venom gland (telson) and body tissue (carapace) with 19 sodium toxin and 14 potassium toxin genes to 18 contigs and 2 scaffolds. This assembly, along with our transcriptomic data, provides further data to investigate scorpion venom genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsunemi Yamashita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801, USA
| | - Douglas D Rhoads
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Jeff Pummill
- High Performance Computing Center, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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Yamashita T, Rhoads DD, Pummill J. A robust genome and assembly with transcriptomic data from the striped scorpion, Centruroides vittatus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.04.551372. [PMID: 37609349 PMCID: PMC10441356 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.04.551372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
AbstractScorpions, a seemingly primitive, stinging arthropod taxa, are known to exhibit marked diversity in their venom components. These venoms are known for their human pathology, but also important as models for therapeutic and drug development applications. We report a high quality genome assembly and annotation of the striped bark scorpion,Centruroides vittatus, created with several shotgun libraries. The final assembly is 760 Mb in size, with a BUSCO score of 97.8%, a 30.85% GC, and a N50 of 2.35 Mb. We estimated 36,189 proteins with 37.32% assigned to GO terms in our GOanna analysis. We were able to map 2011 and 60 venom toxin genes to contigs and scaffolds, respectively. We were also able to identify expression differences between venom gland (telson) and body tissue (carapace) with 19 Sodium toxin and 14 Potassium toxin genes to 18 contigs and two scaffolds. This assembly along with our transcriptomic data, provides further data to investigate scorpion venom genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsunemi Yamashita
- Department of Biological Sciences, Arkansas Tech University, Russellville, AR 72801, USA
| | - Douglas D. Rhoads
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Jeff Pummill
- High Performance Computing Center, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
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Genetic diversity of medically important scorpions of the genus Centruroides (Buthidae) from Panama including two endemic species. J Genet 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-022-01374-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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Reduced Toxicity of Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821) May Result from Lowered Sodium β Toxin Gene Expression and Toxin Protein Production. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13110828. [PMID: 34822614 PMCID: PMC8619477 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13110828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Body tissue and venom glands from an eastern population of the scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821) were homogenized and molecular constituents removed to characterize putative sodium β toxin gene diversity, RT-qPCR, transcriptomic, and proteomic variation. We cloned sodium β toxins from genomic DNA, conducted RT-qPCR experiments with seven sodium β toxin variants, performed venom gland tissue RNA-seq, and isolated venom proteins for mass spectrophotometry. We identified >70 putative novel sodium β toxin genes, 111 toxin gene transcripts, 24 different toxin proteins, and quantified sodium β toxin gene expression variation among individuals and between sexes. Our analyses contribute to the growing evidence that venom toxicity among scorpion taxa and their populations may be associated with toxin gene diversity, specific toxin transcripts variation, and subsequent protein production. Here, slight transcript variation among toxin gene variants may contribute to the major toxin protein variation in individual scorpion venom composition.
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Alajmi R, Al-ghamdi S, Barakat I, Mahmoud A, Abdon N, Al-Ahidib M, Abdel-Gaber R. Antimicrobial Activity of Two Novel Venoms from Saudi Arabian Scorpions (Leiurus quinquestriatus and Androctonus crassicauda). Int J Pept Res Ther 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-019-09816-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Montecinos AE, Couceiro L, Peters AF, Desrut A, Valero M, Guillemin ML. Species delimitation and phylogeographic analyses in the Ectocarpus subgroup siliculosi (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2017; 53:17-31. [PMID: 27454456 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The genus Ectocarpus (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae) contains filamentous algae widely distributed in marine and estuarine habitats of temperate regions in both hemispheres. While E. siliculosus has become a model organism for genomics and genetics of the brown macroalgae, accurate species delineation, distribution patterns and diversity for the genus Ectocarpus remain problematic. In this study, we used three independent species delimitation approaches to generate a robust species hypothesis for 729 Ectocarpus specimens collected mainly along the European and Chilean coasts. These approaches comprised phylogenetic reconstructions and two bioinformatics tools developed to objectively define species boundaries (General Mixed Yule Coalescence Method and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery). Our analyses were based on DNA sequences of two loci: the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer 1 of the ribosomal DNA. Our analyses showed the presence of at least 15 cryptic species and suggest the existence of incomplete lineage sorting or introgression between five of them. These results suggested the possible existence of different levels of reproductive barriers within this species complex. We also detected differences among species in their phylogeographic patterns, range and depth distributions, which may suggest different biogeographic histories (e.g., endemic species or recent introductions).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro E Montecinos
- CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris VI, PUC, UACH, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place G. Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Lucia Couceiro
- CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris VI, PUC, UACH, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place G. Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Akira F Peters
- Bezhin Rosko, 40 rue des pêcheurs, 29250, Santec, France
| | - Antoine Desrut
- CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris VI, PUC, UACH, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place G. Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Myriam Valero
- CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris VI, PUC, UACH, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place G. Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Marie-Laure Guillemin
- CNRS, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC University Paris VI, PUC, UACH, UMI 3614, Evolutionary Biology and Ecology of Algae, Station Biologique de Roscoff, CS 90074, Place G. Teissier, 29680, Roscoff, France
- Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
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Kang AM, Brooks DE. Nationwide Scorpion Exposures Reported to US Poison Control Centers from 2005 to 2015. J Med Toxicol 2016; 13:158-165. [PMID: 27921219 DOI: 10.1007/s13181-016-0594-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 11/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous studies of scorpion envenomation in the United States (US) have focused on Arizona and the bark scorpion, Centruroides sculpturatus. Although many other scorpion species live in the US, information about envenomations in other states is lacking. METHODS Nationwide scorpion exposures from 2005 to 2015 were analyzed using the National Poison Data System. RESULTS Of the 185,402 total exposures, Arizona (68.2%), Texas (10.3%), and Nevada (4.2%) were the top contributors. However, six other southern states reported greater than 100 cases annually, primarily during the warmer months and evening hours. Envenomations occurred most often in a home (97.8%) and were typically managed on-site (90.1%). Pain was the most common effect nationwide (88.7%). Arizona had the highest frequencies of sensory, neuromuscular, and respiratory effects along with higher hospitalization and ICU admission rates, although the latter appeared to drop over the study period. In contrast, local skin effects such as erythema and edema were more common outside of Arizona. Children under 10 years of age in Arizona and Nevada had the highest rates of systemic effects, hospitalization, and ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS Scorpion envenomations occurred throughout the southern US with similar seasonal and daily variations. Common clinical effects included pain, local edema, and erythema, except in Arizona and Nevada where severe systemic symptoms were more common. Systemic effects correlated with high rates of ICU admissions and intubations, especially in children under 10 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Min Kang
- Department of Medical Toxicology & Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA. .,Departments of Child Health and Internal Medicine & Center for Toxicology and Pharmacology Education and Research, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Daniel E Brooks
- Department of Medical Toxicology & Banner Poison and Drug Information Center, Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85006, USA.,Departments of Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine & Center for Toxicology and Pharmacology Education and Research, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
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Miller DW, Jones AD, Goldston JS, Rowe MP, Rowe AH. Sex Differences in Defensive Behavior and Venom of The Striped Bark Scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Integr Comp Biol 2016; 56:1022-1031. [PMID: 27471227 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icw098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of venom variability have advanced from describing the mechanisms of action and relative potency of medically important toxins to understanding the ecological and evolutionary causes of the variability itself. While most studies have focused on differences in venoms among taxa, populations, or age-classes, there may be intersexual effects as well. Striped bark scorpions (Centruroides vittatus) provide a good model for examining sex differences in venom composition and efficacy, as this species exhibits dramatic sexual dimorphism in both size and defensive behavior; when threatened by an enemy, larger, slower females stand and fight while smaller, fleeter males prefer to run. We here add evidence suggesting that male and female C. vittatus indeed have different defensive propensities; when threatened via an electrical stimulus, females were more likely to sting than were males. We reasoned that intersexual differences in defensive phenotypes would select for venoms with different functions in the two sexes; female venoms should be effective at predator deterrence, whereas male venoms, less utilized defensively, might be better suited to capturing prey or courting females. This rationale led to our predictions that females would inject more venom and/or possess more painful venom than males. We were wrong. While females do inject more venom than males in a defensive sting, females are also larger; when adjusted for body size, male and female C. vittatus commit equal masses of venom in a sting to a potential enemy. Additionally, house mice (Mus musculus) find an injection of male venom more irritating than an equal amount of female venom, likely because male venom contains more of the toxins that induce pain. Taken together, our results suggest that identifying the ultimate causes of venom variability will, as we move beyond adaptive storytelling, be hard-won.
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Affiliation(s)
- D W Miller
- *Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - A D Jones
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - J S Goldston
- *Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - M P Rowe
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - A H Rowe
- Neuroscience Program and Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Bryson RW, Savary WE, Zellmer AJ, Bury RB, McCormack JE. Genomic data reveal ancient microendemism in forest scorpions across the California Floristic Province. Mol Ecol 2016; 25:3731-51. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. Bryson
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture; University of Washington; Box 351800 Seattle WA 98195-1800 USA
| | - Warren E. Savary
- Department of Entomology; California Academy of Sciences; 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park San Francisco CA 94118 USA
| | - Amanda J. Zellmer
- Department of Biology; Occidental College; 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles CA 90041 USA
| | | | - John E. McCormack
- Department of Biology; Occidental College; 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles CA 90041 USA
- Moore Laboratory of Zoology; Occidental College; 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles CA 90041 USA
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Scorpion Toxin, BmP01, Induces Pain by Targeting TRPV1 Channel. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:3671-87. [PMID: 26389953 PMCID: PMC4591660 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7093671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The intense pain induced by scorpion sting is a frequent clinical manifestation. To date, there is no established protocol with significant efficacy to alleviate the pain induced by scorpion envenomation. One of the important reasons is that, little information on pain-inducing compound from scorpion venoms is available. Here, a pain-inducing peptide (BmP01) has been identified and characterized from the venoms of scorpion (Mesobuthus martensii). In an animal model, intraplantar injection of BmP01 in mouse hind paw showed significant acute pain in wild type (WT) mice but not in TRPV1 knock-out (TRPV1 KO) mice during 30 min recording. BmP01 evoked currents in WT dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons but had no effect on DRG neurons of TRPV1 KO mice. Furthermore, OPEN ACCESS Toxins 2015, 7 3672 BmP01 evoked currents on TRPV1-expressed HEK293T cells, but not on HEK293T cells without TRPV1. These results suggest that (1) BmP01 is one of the pain-inducing agents in scorpion venoms; and (2) BmP01 induces pain by acting on TRPV1. To our knowledge, this is the first report about a scorpion toxin that produces pain by targeting TRPV1. Identification of a pain-inducing compound may facilitate treating pain induced by scorpion envenomation.
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Bryson RW, Prendini L, Savary WE, Pearman PB. Caves as microrefugia: Pleistocene phylogeography of the troglophilic North American scorpion Pseudouroctonus reddelli. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:9. [PMID: 24428910 PMCID: PMC3902065 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-14-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2013] [Accepted: 01/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Survival in microrefugia represents an important paradigm in phylogeography for explaining rapid postglacial re-colonization by species in temperate regions. Microrefugia may allow populations to persist in areas where the climatic conditions on the surface have become unfavourable. Caves generally contain stable microclimates and may represent microrefugia for species capable of exploiting both cave and surface habitats (troglophiles). We examine the phylogeography of the troglophilic North American vaejovid scorpion Pseudouroctonus reddelli using 1,993 base pairs of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data generated from 12 populations. We use (i) descriptive measures of genetic diversity and population genetics statistics, (ii) reconstructions of phylogeographical structure, spatial diffusion during diversification, and population sizes through time, and (iii) species distribution modelling to test predictions of the hypothesis that caves serve as microrefugia. We compare phylogeographical patterns in P. reddelli with other troglophilic species across the Edwards Plateau karst region of Texas. RESULTS Results revealed high haplotype and nucleotide diversity and substantial phylogeographical structure, probably generated during the Pleistocene. Spatial diffusion occurred along the southern edge of the Edwards Plateau from multiple refugia along the Balcones Escarpment. There was little evidence for population and geographical expansion. Species distribution models predicted substantial reductions in suitable epigean habitat for P. reddelli at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). CONCLUSIONS High genetic diversity, strong phylogeographical structure, diffusion from multiple refugia, and unfavourable climatic conditions at the LGM collectively support the hypothesis that caves served as microrefugia for P. reddelli. Similar patterns of genetic structure in P. reddelli and other troglophilic species across the Edwards Plateau karst region of Texas suggest that caves serving as microrefugia are important for the formation, maintenance, and future survival of troglophilic species in temperate karst regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Bryson
- Department of Biology and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, Box 351800, Seattle, WA 98195-1800, USA
| | - Lorenzo Prendini
- Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY 10024-5192, USA
| | - Warren E Savary
- Department of Entomology, California Academy of Sciences, 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Peter B Pearman
- Landscape Dynamics Unit, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Zuercherstrasse 111, Birmensdorf CH-8903, Switzerland
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Sunagar K, Undheim EAB, Chan AHC, Koludarov I, Muñoz-Gómez SA, Antunes A, Fry BG. Evolution stings: the origin and diversification of scorpion toxin peptide scaffolds. Toxins (Basel) 2013; 5:2456-87. [PMID: 24351712 PMCID: PMC3873696 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5122456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2013] [Revised: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The episodic nature of natural selection and the accumulation of extreme sequence divergence in venom-encoding genes over long periods of evolutionary time can obscure the signature of positive Darwinian selection. Recognition of the true biocomplexity is further hampered by the limited taxon selection, with easy to obtain or medically important species typically being the subject of intense venom research, relative to the actual taxonomical diversity in nature. This holds true for scorpions, which are one of the most ancient terrestrial venomous animal lineages. The family Buthidae that includes all the medically significant species has been intensely investigated around the globe, while almost completely ignoring the remaining non-buthid families. Australian scorpion lineages, for instance, have been completely neglected, with only a single scorpion species (Urodacus yaschenkoi) having its venom transcriptome sequenced. Hence, the lack of venom composition and toxin sequence information from an entire continent’s worth of scorpions has impeded our understanding of the molecular evolution of scorpion venom. The molecular origin, phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary histories of most scorpion toxin scaffolds remain enigmatic. In this study, we have sequenced venom gland transcriptomes of a wide taxonomical diversity of scorpions from Australia, including buthid and non-buthid representatives. Using state-of-art molecular evolutionary analyses, we show that a majority of CSα/β toxin scaffolds have experienced episodic influence of positive selection, while most non-CSα/β linear toxins evolve under the extreme influence of negative selection. For the first time, we have unraveled the molecular origin of the major scorpion toxin scaffolds, such as scorpion venom single von Willebrand factor C-domain peptides (SV-SVC), inhibitor cystine knot (ICK), disulphide-directed beta-hairpin (DDH), bradykinin potentiating peptides (BPP), linear non-disulphide bridged peptides and antimicrobial peptides (AMP). We have thus demonstrated that even neglected lineages of scorpions are a rich pool of novel biochemical components, which have evolved over millions of years to target specific ion channels in prey animals, and as a result, possess tremendous implications in therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kartik Sunagar
- CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; E-Mails: (K.S.); (A.A.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Eivind A. B. Undheim
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mails: (E.A.B.U.); (A.H.C.C.); (I.K.)
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Angelo H. C. Chan
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mails: (E.A.B.U.); (A.H.C.C.); (I.K.)
| | - Ivan Koludarov
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mails: (E.A.B.U.); (A.H.C.C.); (I.K.)
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Sergio A. Muñoz-Gómez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Centre for Comparative Genomics and Evolutionary Bioinformatics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; E-Mail:
| | - Agostinho Antunes
- CIMAR/CIIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 177, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal; E-Mails: (K.S.); (A.A.)
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Bryan G. Fry
- Venom Evolution Lab, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-Mails: (E.A.B.U.); (A.H.C.C.); (I.K.)
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +61-400-193-182
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Cryptic genetic diversity and complex phylogeography of the boreal North American scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus (Vaejovidae). Mol Phylogenet Evol 2013; 71:298-307. [PMID: 24269314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Revised: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 11/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Diverse studies in western North America have revealed the role of topography for dynamically shaping genetic diversity within species though vicariance, dispersal and range expansion. We examined patterns of phylogeographical diversity in the widespread but poorly studied North American vaejovid scorpion, Paruroctonus boreus Girard 1854. We used mitochondrial sequence data and parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian inference to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships across the distributional range of P. boreus, focusing on intermontane western North America. Additionally, we developed a species distribution model to predict its present and historical distributions during the Last Glacial Maximum and the Last Interglacial Maximum. Our results documented complex phylogeographic relationships within P. boreus, with multiple, well-supported crown clades that are either geographically-circumscribed or widespread and separated by short, poorly supported internodes. We also observed subtle variation in predicted habitat suitability, especially at the northern, eastern and southern edges of the predicted distributional range under past climatic conditions. The complex phylogenetic relationships of P. boreus suggests that historical isolation and expansion of populations may have occurred. Variation in the predicted distributional range over time may implicate past climatic fluctuations in generating the patterns of genetic diversity observed in P. boreus. These findings highlight both the potential for cryptic biodiversity in widespread North American scorpion species and the importance of phylogeographical studies for understanding the factors responsible for generating the biodiversity of western North America.
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