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Venom Gene Sequence Diversity and Expression Jointly Shape Diet Adaptation in Pitvipers
Andrew J Mason1, Matthew L Holding2, Rhett M Rautsaw3
1Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Molecular Biology and Evolution
|April 12, 2022
Summary
Adaptive evolution in pitvipers is driven by both protein sequence diversity (SD) and expression diversity (ED). These factors jointly enhance venom complexity, enabling broader diets (DB) in snake populations.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genomics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Understanding adaptive evolution requires examining protein sequence variation and differential expression.
- Venom complexity in pitvipers is a key adaptation linked to diet breadth.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the genetic basis of venom complexity and its link to diet breadth in pitvipers.
- To analyze the roles of sequence diversity (SD) and expression diversity (ED) in adaptation.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic path analysis of a venom-gland transcriptome dataset from three pitviper genera.
- Gene-family-specific analysis of venom protein encoding genes.
Main Results:
- Positive relationships were found between SD, ED, and diet breadth (DB) for snake venom metalloproteases and snake venom serine proteases.
- No relationship was observed between molecular diversity and DB for phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes.
- Higher expression levels, not sequence diversity, may drive diet adaptation for PLA2s.
Conclusions:
- Functional diversity from both sequence and expression variations jointly determine adaptation in key venom components.
- Mechanisms of adaptation vary across different venom protein families.
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