Recruitment of toxin-like proteins with ancestral venom function supports endoparasitic lifestyles of Myxozoa [PeerJ]

Cnidarians are the oldest lineage of venomous animals and use nematocysts to discharge toxins. Whether venom toxins have been recruited to support parasitic lifestyles in the Endocnidozoa (Myxozoa + Polypodium) is, however, unknown. To examine this issue we variously employed transcriptomic, proteomic, associated molecular phylogenies, and localisation studies on representative primitive and derived myxozoans (Malacosporea and Myxosporea, respectively), Polypodium hydriforme, and the free-living staurozoan Calvadosia cruxmelitensis. Our transcriptomics and proteomics analyses provide evidence for expression and translation of venom toxin homologs in myxozoans. Phylogenetic placement of Kunitz type serine protease inhibitors and phospholipase A2 enzymes reveals modification of toxins inherited from ancestral free-living cnidarian toxins, and that venom diversity is reduced in myxozoans concordant with their reduced genome sizes. Various phylogenetic analyses of the Kunitz-type toxin family in Endocnidozoa suggested lineage-specific gene duplications, which offers a possible mechanism for enhancing toxin diversification. Toxin localisation in the malacosporean Buddenbrockia plumatellae substantiates toxin translation and thus illustrates a repurposing of toxin function for endoparasite development and interactions with hosts, rather than for prey capture or defence. Whether myxozoan venom candidates are expressed in transmission stages (e.g. in nematocysts or secretory vesicles) requires further investigation.

Marine Drugs, Free Full-Text

Apoptotic gene loss in Cnidaria is associated with transition to parasitism

PDF) Reciprocal transplantation of the heterotrophic coral Tubastraea coccinea (Scleractinia: Dendrophylliidae) between distinct habitats did not alter its venom toxin composition

Loop Adrian Jaimes-Becerra

Recruitment of toxin-like proteins with ancestral venom function supports endoparasitic lifestyles of Myxozoa [PeerJ]

PDF) Genomic insights into the evolutionary origin of Myxozoa within Cnidaria

Species-specific Venomix outputs following different search strategies

Marine Drugs, Free Full-Text

PDF] Tissue-Specific Venom Composition and Differential Gene Expression in Sea Anemones

PDF] Tentacle Transcriptome and Venom Proteome of the Pacific Sea Nettle, Chrysaora fuscescens (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

PDF] Parallel Evolution of Complex Centipede Venoms Revealed by Comparative Proteotranscriptomic Analyses

Marine Drugs, Free Full-Text

PDF] Solenodon genome reveals convergent evolution of venom in eulipotyphlan mammals

Marine Drugs, Free Full-Text