Publications by authors named "Shir A Singer"
Toxin-like neuropeptides in the sea anemone unravel recruitment from the nervous system to venom.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
November 2020
Article Synopsis
- The sea anemone serves as a key model organism for studying the evolution of venom and nervous system genes, highlighting how these systems can evolve from shared ancestral genes.
- Researchers identified a specific ancestral gene that led to the creation of a toxic venom component, ShK-like1, which is lethal to fish larvae and found in the sea anemone's venom capsules.
- The study also characterized another gene, ShK-like2, a neuropeptide involved in development, revealing a link between the nervous and venom systems and showcasing a pathway of gene duplication and functional specialization in these organisms.
The cnidarian Nematostella vectensis has become an established lab model, providing unique opportunities for venom evolution research. The Nematostella venom system is multimodal: involving both nematocytes and ectodermal gland cells, which produce a toxin mixture whose composition changes throughout the life cycle. Additionally, their modes of interaction with predators and prey vary between eggs, larvae, and adults, which is likely shaped by the dynamics of the venom system.
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