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Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras

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Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. / Kazandjian, Taline D.; Petras, Daniel; Robinson, S.D. et al.
In: Science, Vol. 371, No. 6527, 22.01.2021, p. 386-390.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

HarvardHarvard

Kazandjian, TD, Petras, D, Robinson, SD, van Thiel, J, Greene, HW, Arbuckle, K, Barlow, A, Carter, DA, Wouters, R, Whiteley, G, Wagstaff, SC, Arias, AS, Albulescu, LO, Plettenberg Laing, A, Hall, C, Heap, A, Penrhyn-Lowe, S, McCabe, CV, Ainsworth, S, da Silva, RR, Dorrestein, PC, Richardson, MK, Gutiérrez, JM, Calvete, JJ, Harrison, RA, Vetter, I, Undheim, EAB, Wüster, W & Casewell, NR 2021, 'Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras', Science, vol. 371, no. 6527, pp. 386-390. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9303

APA

Kazandjian, T. D., Petras, D., Robinson, S. D., van Thiel, J., Greene, H. W., Arbuckle, K., Barlow, A., Carter, D. A., Wouters, R., Whiteley, G., Wagstaff, S. C., Arias, A. S., Albulescu, L. O., Plettenberg Laing, A., Hall, C., Heap, A., Penrhyn-Lowe, S., McCabe, C. V., Ainsworth, S., ... Casewell, N. R. (2021). Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. Science, 371(6527), 386-390. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9303

CBE

Kazandjian TD, Petras D, Robinson SD, van Thiel J, Greene HW, Arbuckle K, Barlow A, Carter DA, Wouters R, Whiteley G, et al. 2021. Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. Science. 371(6527):386-390. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9303

MLA

Kazandjian, Taline D. et al. "Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras". Science. 2021, 371(6527). 386-390. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abb9303

VancouverVancouver

Kazandjian TD, Petras D, Robinson SD, van Thiel J, Greene HW, Arbuckle K et al. Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. Science. 2021 Jan 22;371(6527):386-390. doi: 10.1126/science.abb9303

Author

Kazandjian, Taline D. ; Petras, Daniel ; Robinson, S.D. et al. / Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras. In: Science. 2021 ; Vol. 371, No. 6527. pp. 386-390.

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Convergent evolution of pain-inducing defensive venom components in spitting cobras

AU - Kazandjian, Taline D.

AU - Petras, Daniel

AU - Robinson, S.D.

AU - van Thiel, Jory

AU - Greene, Harry W.

AU - Arbuckle, Kevin

AU - Barlow, Axel

AU - Carter, D.A.

AU - Wouters, Roel

AU - Whiteley, Gareth

AU - Wagstaff, S.C.

AU - Arias, A.S.

AU - Albulescu, L.O.

AU - Plettenberg Laing, Anthony

AU - Hall, Cara

AU - Heap, Adam

AU - Penrhyn-Lowe, Samuel

AU - McCabe, C.V.

AU - Ainsworth, Stuart

AU - da Silva, R.R.

AU - Dorrestein, Pieter C.

AU - Richardson, M.K.

AU - Gutiérrez, José Maria

AU - Calvete, Juan J.

AU - Harrison, Robert A.

AU - Vetter, Irina

AU - Undheim, Eivind A.B.

AU - Wüster, Wolfgang

AU - Casewell, Nicholas R.

N1 - Copyright © 2021, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

PY - 2021/1/22

Y1 - 2021/1/22

N2 - Convergent evolution provides insights into the selective drivers underlying evolutionary change. Snake venoms, with a direct genetic basis and clearly defined functional phenotype, provide a model system for exploring the repeated evolution of adaptations. While snakes use venom primarily for predation, and venom composition often reflects diet specificity, three lineages of cobras have independently evolved the ability to spit venom at adversaries. Using gene, protein, and functional analyses, we show that the three spitting lineages possess venoms characterized by an up-regulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins, which potentiate the action of preexisting venom cytotoxins to activate mammalian sensory neurons and cause enhanced pain. These repeated independent changes provide a fascinating example of convergent evolution across multiple phenotypic levels driven by selection for defense.

AB - Convergent evolution provides insights into the selective drivers underlying evolutionary change. Snake venoms, with a direct genetic basis and clearly defined functional phenotype, provide a model system for exploring the repeated evolution of adaptations. While snakes use venom primarily for predation, and venom composition often reflects diet specificity, three lineages of cobras have independently evolved the ability to spit venom at adversaries. Using gene, protein, and functional analyses, we show that the three spitting lineages possess venoms characterized by an up-regulation of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) toxins, which potentiate the action of preexisting venom cytotoxins to activate mammalian sensory neurons and cause enhanced pain. These repeated independent changes provide a fascinating example of convergent evolution across multiple phenotypic levels driven by selection for defense.

KW - Adaptation, Biological/genetics

KW - Animals

KW - Elapid Venoms/enzymology

KW - Elapidae/classification

KW - Evolution, Molecular

KW - Group IV Phospholipases A2/genetics

KW - Pain

KW - Phylogeny

KW - Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism

U2 - 10.1126/science.abb9303

DO - 10.1126/science.abb9303

M3 - Article

C2 - 33479150

VL - 371

SP - 386

EP - 390

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6527

ER -