Exaptation of an evolutionary constraint enables behavioural control over the composition of secreted venom in a giant centipede.

Autor: Schendel V; Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Hamilton BR; Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Robinson SD; Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Green K; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Sayre ME; Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia., Brown D; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Stow JL; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Øyen JP; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway., Voje KL; Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway., Millard SS; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Vetter I; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.; School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia., Rash LD; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia., Undheim EAB; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. e.a.b.undheim@ibv.uio.no.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature ecology & evolution [Nat Ecol Evol] 2024 Nov 04. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 04.
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-024-02556-9
Abstrakt: Venoms are biochemical arsenals that have emerged in numerous animal lineages, where they have co-evolved with morphological and behavioural traits for venom production and delivery. In centipedes, venom evolution is thought to be constrained by the morphological complexity of their venom glands due to physiological limitations on the number of toxins produced by their secretory cells. Here we show that the uneven toxin expression that results from these limitations have enabled Scolopendra morsitans to regulate the composition of their secreted venom despite the lack of gross morphologically complex venom glands. We show that this control is probably achieved by a combination of this heterogenous toxin distribution with a dual mechanism of venom secretion that involves neuromuscular innervation as well as stimulation via neurotransmitters. Our results suggest that behavioural control over venom composition may be an overlooked aspect of venom biology and provide an example of how exaptation can facilitate evolutionary innovation and novelty.
(© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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