Convergent evolution of toxin resistance in animals

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  • Jory van Thiel
    Leiden University
  • Muzaffar A. Khan
    Leiden University
  • Roel M. Wouters
    Leiden University
  • Richard J. Harris
    The University of Queensland
  • Nicholas R. Casewell
    Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
  • Bryan G. Fry
    The University of Queensland
  • R. Manjunatha Kini
    National University of Singapore
  • Stephen P. Mackessy
    University of Northern Colorado
  • Freek J. Vonk
    Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden
  • Wolfgang Wüster
  • Michael K. Richardson
    Leiden University
Convergence is the phenomenon whereby similar phenotypes evolve independently in different lineages. One example is resistance to toxins in animals. Toxins have evolved many times throughout the tree of life. They disrupt molecular and physiological pathways in target species, thereby incapacitating prey or deterring a predator. In response, molecular resistance has evolved in many species exposed to toxins to counteract their harmful effects. Here, we review current knowledge on the convergence of toxin resistance using examples from a wide range of toxin families. We explore the evolutionary processes and molecular adaptations driving toxin resistance. However, resistance adaptations may carry a fitness cost if they disrupt the normal physiology of the resistant animal. Therefore, there is a trade-off between main- taining a functional molecular target and reducing toxin susceptibility. There are relatively few solutions that satisfy this trade-off. As a result, we see a small set of molecular adaptations appearing repeatedly in diverse animal lineages, a phe- nomenon that is consistent with models of deterministic evolution. Convergence may also explain what has been called ‘autoresistance’. This is often thought to have evolved for self-protection, but we argue instead that it may be a conse- quence of poisonous animals feeding on toxic prey. Toxin resistance provides a unique and compelling model system for studying the interplay between trophic interactions, selection pressures and the molecular mechanisms underlying evolutionary novelties.

Keywords

  • convergent evolution, toxin resistance, molecular adaptation, functional constraint, deterministic evolution, co-evolutionary arms races
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1823-1843
Number of pages21
JournalBiological Reviews
Volume97
Issue number5
Early online date17 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2022

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