Loss of a major venom toxin gene in a Western Diamondback rattlesnake population DOI Creative Commons
Noah Dowell,

Elizabeth Cahill,

Sean B. Carroll

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 6, 2025

Abstract The biochemical complexity and evolutionary diversity of snake venom composition reflects adaptation to the prey in their diets. However, genetic mechanisms underlying venoms are not well understood. Here, we explored potential extent basis for protein variation widely-distributed Western Diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox ). As many venoms, metalloproteinases (SVMPs) major component C. venom, with three proteins belonging distinct structural SVMP classes, MDC4, MAD3a, MPO1, constituting most abundant SVMPs. We found that while proteins, including MDC4 vary little among individuals, MPO1 is completely absent from some animals, commonly those western part species’ geographic range. This distribution correlates previous finding two lineages within indicates different ecological factors have shaped across further show loss expression due transcriptional down-regulation, but several independent inactivating mutations at locus, whole gene deletion. recurrent inactivation a toxin population may reflect relaxed selection on maintenance function, also raise possibility components be favored if there cost producing less effective protein-rich venoms.

Language: Английский

Loss of a major venom toxin gene in a Western Diamondback rattlesnake population DOI Creative Commons
Noah Dowell,

Elizabeth Cahill,

Sean B. Carroll

et al.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 6, 2025

Abstract The biochemical complexity and evolutionary diversity of snake venom composition reflects adaptation to the prey in their diets. However, genetic mechanisms underlying venoms are not well understood. Here, we explored potential extent basis for protein variation widely-distributed Western Diamondback rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox ). As many venoms, metalloproteinases (SVMPs) major component C. venom, with three proteins belonging distinct structural SVMP classes, MDC4, MAD3a, MPO1, constituting most abundant SVMPs. We found that while proteins, including MDC4 vary little among individuals, MPO1 is completely absent from some animals, commonly those western part species’ geographic range. This distribution correlates previous finding two lineages within indicates different ecological factors have shaped across further show loss expression due transcriptional down-regulation, but several independent inactivating mutations at locus, whole gene deletion. recurrent inactivation a toxin population may reflect relaxed selection on maintenance function, also raise possibility components be favored if there cost producing less effective protein-rich venoms.

Language: Английский

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