AI Article Synopsis
- Venoms are a great example of how similar traits can evolve independently in different animal groups, but there's limited research on toxin genes in most species, especially in hymenopteran insects like bees.
- A study examined the origins of 11 toxin genes across 32 hymenopteran genomes, finding that most venom genes developed from single gene co-option and further diversified through gene duplication.
- The research revealed that most venom genes are common to all hymenopterans, with only a few like melittin and anthophilin1 being exclusive to bees, suggesting these venom proteins existed before the significant diversification of this insect group.
Article Abstract
Background: Venoms, which have evolved numerous times in animals, are ideal models of convergent trait evolution. However, detailed genomic studies of toxin-encoding genes exist for only a few animal groups. The hyper-diverse hymenopteran insects are the most speciose venomous clade, but investigation of the origin of their venom genes has been largely neglected.
Results: Utilizing a combination of genomic and proteo-transcriptomic data, we investigated the origin of 11 toxin genes in 29 published and 3 new hymenopteran genomes and compiled an up-to-date list of prevalent bee venom proteins. Observed patterns indicate that bee venom genes predominantly originate through single gene co-option with gene duplication contributing to subsequent diversification.
Conclusions: Most Hymenoptera venom genes are shared by all members of the clade and only melittin and the new venom protein family anthophilin1 appear unique to the bee lineage. Most venom proteins thus predate the mega-radiation of hymenopterans and the evolution of the aculeate stinger.
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Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10591384 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12915-023-01656-5 | DOI Listing |
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