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Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Comparative in vivo Study of gp96 Adjuvanticity in the Frog Xenopus laevis
Published on: September 16, 2010
Recurrent evolution of adhesive defence systems in amphibians by parallel shifts in gene expression
Shabnam Zaman1, Birgit Lengerer2,3, Joris Van Lindt4
1Ecology, Evolution & Genetics Research Group (bDIV), Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Abstract:
Natural selection can drive organisms to strikingly similar adaptive solutions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms often remain unknown. Several amphibians have independently evolved highly adhesive skin secretions (glues) that support a highly effective antipredator defence mechanism. Here we demonstrate that the glue of the Madagascan tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti, relies on two interacting proteins: a highly derived member of a widespread glycoprotein family and a galectin. Identification of homologous proteins in other amphibians reveals that these proteins attained a function in skin long before glues evolved. Yet, major elevations in their expression, besides structural changes in the glycoprotein (increasing its structural disorder and glycosylation), caused the independent rise of glues in at least two frog lineages. Besides providing a model for the chemical functioning of animal adhesive secretions, our findings highlight how recruiting ancient molecular templates may facilitate the recurrent evolution of functional innovations.
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