Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giulia Zancolli, Maarten Reijnders, Robert M. Waterhouse, Marc Robinson-Rechavi
Summary: Animals have evolved specialized organs and anatomical structures to produce and release potent bioactive molecules, known as venoms, for the purpose of subduing prey or predators. A comparative analysis of venom gland transcriptomes from 20 venomous species reveals a strong convergence in gene expression profiles, indicating that different animals have independently adopted similar molecular mechanisms to perform the same function. The study also highlights the presence of stress response mechanisms in venom glands to cope with toxin production, as well as regulatory networks for epithelial development and maintenance.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biology
Bing Xie, Daniel Dashevsky, Darin Rokyta, Parviz Ghezellou, Behzad Fathinia, Qiong Shi, Michael K. Richardson, Bryan G. Fry
Summary: The evolution of snake toxins shows novel convergences in both structural and functional aspects, providing insights for future studies on predator-prey evolutionary arms races, clinical pathologies, and biodiscovery for drug design.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. D. Kazandjian, D. Petras, S. D. Robinson, J. van Thiel, H. W. Greene, K. Arbuckle, A. Barlow, D. A. Carter, R. M. Wouters, G. Whiteley, S. C. Wagstaff, A. S. Arias, L-O Albulescu, A. Plettenberg Laing, C. Hall, A. Heap, S. Penrhyn-Lowe, C. McCabe, S. Ainsworth, R. R. Silva, P. C. Dorrestein, M. K. Richardson, J. M. Gutierrez, J. J. Calvete, R. A. Harrison, I Vetter, E. A. B. Undheim, W. Wuester, N. R. Casewell
Summary: Convergent evolution in snakes has led to the independent evolution of spitting abilities in three cobra lineages, with distinct venom characteristics. This highlights the significance of selective drivers in driving species evolution through convergent evolution.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Brandon Dow Chan, Wing-Yan Wong, Magnolia Muk-Lan Lee, Patrick Ying-Kit Yue, Xiangrong Dai, Karl Wah-Keung Tsim, Wen-Luan Wendy Hsiao, Mandy Li, Xiao-Yi Li, William Chi-Shing Tai
Summary: A novel protein, ZK002, isolated from the venom of the snake Deinagkistrodon acutus, exhibits anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Mechanistically, ZK002 inhibits activation of VEGF signaling and related mediators and shows efficacy in in vivo and in vitro models.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Leon Hilgers, Olivia Roth, Arne W. Nolte, Alina Schueller, Tobias Spanke, Jana M. Flury, Ilham Utama, Janine Altmueller, Daisy Wowor, Bernhard Misof, Fabian Herder, Astrid Boehne, Julia Schwarzer
Summary: The evolution of pregnancy and external egg-carrying in pelvic brooding ricefishes involves inflammation as a key process, promoting morphological innovation. The development of a novel plug tissue in ricefishes is hypothesized to be triggered by inflammation caused by egg-attaching filaments. This study highlights the role of gene co-option and suggests that recruiting inflammatory signaling into physiological processes provides a fast-track to evolutionary innovation.
Article
Biology
Cheng-Tsung Pan, Chien-Chu Lin, I-Jin Lin, Kun-Yi Chien, Yeong-Shin Lin, Hsiao-Han Chang, Wen-Guey Wu
Summary: For decades, researchers have focused on studying the dominant soluble proteins in snake venom. However, there is still much to learn about the minor venom components, such as snake venom phosphodiesterase (svPDE). In this study, the authors explore svPDE and show that it is derived from a membrane-attached gene and plays a role in purinergic signaling and insulin transduction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arnau Bolet, Edward L. Stanley, Juan D. Daza, J. Salvador Arias, Andrej Cernansky, Marta Vidal-Garcia, Aaron M. Bauer, Joseph J. Bevitt, Adolf Peretti, Susan E. Evans
Summary: Oculudentavis, originally thought to be the smallest avian dinosaur, was proven to be a bizarre lizard of uncertain position. The new interpretation and phylogenetic placement highlight a rare case of convergent evolution in skull proportions, but apparently not in morphological characters.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zbigniew Wyzewski, Marcin Gradowski, Marianna Krysinska, Malgorzata Dudkiewicz, Krzysztof Pawlowski
Summary: This article introduces a new family of potential ADP-ribosyltransferases and their potential roles in cellular signaling and infection processes, with structural connections to the innate immune system.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Cerca
Summary: Studying the concepts and definitions of parallel and convergent evolution is crucial for understanding evolutionary patterns. A consolidated framework is proposed to address the inconsistencies and confusion in existing concepts and definitions. This framework aims to harmonize the concepts of parallel and convergent evolution with natural selection and the idea of similarity.
Article
Biology
Yirong Wang, Xiaolu Tang, Jian Lu
Summary: The evolution of microRNAs in bilaterian animals has been extensively studied, with a focus on both convergent and divergent evolution. Recent evidence suggests that the miRNA pathway might have already existed in the last common ancestor of eukaryotes, and differences in animal and plant lineages arise from lineage-specific innovations and losses. The miRNA repertoire has expanded through de novo creation and duplication processes, with many newly emerged miRNAs being lineage-specific. MiRNA clustering and seed mimicry contribute to the convergent molecular evolution of miRNAs, and miRNAs from different sources can converge to degrade maternal mRNAs during animal development. MiRNAs can evolve across species due to changes in sequence, seed shifting, arm switching, and spatiotemporal expression patterns, resulting in variations in target sites among orthologous miRNAs.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kaijiao Hu, Longbao Lv, Hui Huang, Guangnian Yin, Jie Gao, Jianping Liu, Yaying Yang, Wenxin Zeng, Yan Chen, Ni Zhang, Feiyan Zhang, Yuhua Ma, Feilan Chen
Summary: This study developed a novel model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) using tree shrews with a cone-dominated retina resembling the human fovea. The EAU model exhibited similar pathological features to human uveitis, including retinal degeneration, subretinal deposits, immune cell infiltration, and T-cell response. Important genes and pathways related to bacterial invasion, inflammatory pain, microglial phagocytosis, and lipid and glucose metabolism may be involved.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fiona P. Ukken, Noah L. Dowell, Mamta Hajra, Sean B. Carroll
Summary: The complexity of snake venom composition reflects adaptation to prey diversity and coevolutionary arms race. Serum inhibitors of snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) play a role in snake autoinhibition, but their efficacy is maintained as venom proteins evolve. In this study, the evolutionary origin of serum SVMP inhibitors in Crotalus atrox was traced, revealing a functional evolutionary shift in the major SVMP inhibitor as the SVMP family expanded and diversified in the Crotalus lineage.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Review
Biology
Bjoern M. von Reumont, Gregor Anderluh, Agostinho Antunes, Naira Ayvazyan, Dimitris Beis, Figen Caliskan, Ana Crnkovic, Maik Damm, Sebastien Dutertre, Lars Ellgaard, Goran Gajski, Hannah German, Beata Halassy, Benjamin-Florian Hempel, Tim Hucho, Nasit Igci, Maria P. Ikonomopoulou, Izhar Karbat, Maria Klapa, Ivan Koludarov, Jeroen Kool, Tim Lueddecke, Riadh Ben Mansour, Maria Vittoria Modica, Yehu Moran, Ayse Nalbantsoy, Maria Eugenia Pachon Ibanez, Alexios Panagiotopoulos, Eitan Reuveny, Javier Sanchez Cespedes, Andy Sombke, Joachim M. Surm, Eivind A. B. Undheim, Aida Verdes, Giulia Zancolli
Summary: Venoms have evolved multiple times in different animal groups, with their components known as toxins being highly effective biochemical weapons. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the evolution of venom arsenals, and these questions have received little attention outside of certain animal groups. The study of venomous animals and their toxins has provided inspiration for translational research, and recent technological advancements have greatly improved venom research. Understanding the genomics and modifications of toxins is important in understanding their evolution and functions during different stages of development. Advanced imaging techniques and computer tomography also provide insights into the distribution and function of toxins in the venom system. The knowledge gained from studying venomous animals contributes to the identification and synthesis of venom compounds, which have potential benefits in various fields such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yunfei Wang, Chuanlin Yin, Hao Zhang, Peter Muiruri Kamau, Wenqi Dong, Anna Luo, Longhui Chai, Shilong Yang, Ren Lai
Summary: This study reveals the mechanism of tissue-specific resistance in centipedes, where a splice variant of the receptor repels its own toxin, establishing a safe zone in the venom-storing/secreting environment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianhua Huang, Jiani Chen, Gangqi Fang, Lan Pang, Sicong Zhou, Yuenan Zhou, Zhongqiu Pan, Qichao Zhang, Yifeng Sheng, Yueqi Lu, Zhiguo Liu, Yixiang Zhang, Guiyun Li, Min Shi, Xuexin Chen, Shuai Zhan
Summary: The study reveals that a novel protein allows a generalist parasitoid to actively suppress the host immune system by lysing the host lymph glands, while another protein helps a specialist parasitoid escape the host immune response by attaching eggs to the host organs. These different parasitic strategies originated from lateral gene transfer, highlighting their importance in host adaptation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olivia S. Harringmeyer, Maya L. Woolfolk, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: Timely migration is crucial for many species for survival and reproduction. A new study on salmon has identified a small genomic region associated with migration timing, which impacts other physiological traits, suggesting that a complex suite of migration traits is linked by one simple phenotype.
Review
Neurosciences
Nicholas Jourjine, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: Neuroscientists advocate for a complementary approach to model clade development, integrating evolutionary comparative methods with neurobiological and behavioral experiments to capitalize on natural behavioral variation in model clades and invest in experimental tools for the next generation of neuroscience discovery.
Article
Zoology
Emily R. Hager, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: The study found that the tail of deer mice affects body roll during arboreal locomotion, with different tail lengths resulting in differences in body rotation from tail motions. The shape of caudal vertebrae influences the curvature angle of the tail. Although forest and prairie mice have differences in caudal vertebrae length and number, this does not appear to be due to a functional trade-off related to tail curvature.
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Caroline K. Hu, Ryan A. York, Hillery C. Metz, Nicole L. Bedford, Hunter B. Fraser, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: This study reveals the regulatory divergence of gene expression in response to behavioral context, and how this dynamic regulatory divergence between species contributes to behavioral evolution. The findings show that burrowing behavior-induced cis-regulatory changes are associated with species-level differential expression and allele-specific expression.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
T. Brock Wooldridge, Andreas F. Kautt, Jean-Marc Lassance, Sade McFadden, Vera S. Domingues, Ricardo Mallarino, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: By studying the oldfield mouse, researchers have identified the genetic basis of color variation in their dorsal coats. A specific region upstream of the Agouti signaling protein coding region was strongly associated with pigment variation. The study also found that the light allele of this region has been maintained in mainland populations and has spread to and been selected in independent beach mouse lineages, facilitating their rapid and parallel evolution.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nils Chr Stenseth, Leif Andersson, Hopi E. Hoekstra
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emily R. Hager, Olivia S. Harringmeyer, T. Brock Wooldridge, Shunn Theingi, Jacob T. Gable, Sade McFadden, Beverly Neugeboren, Kyle M. Turner, Jeffrey D. Jensen, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: This study characterized the genetic basis of trait variation in different ecotypes of deer mice and identified a chromosomal inversion linked to tail length and coat color. The frequency of the inversion was high in the forest ecotype, decreased across a habitat transition, and was absent in the prairie ecotype. Divergent selection was implicated in maintaining the inversion at observed frequencies despite high levels of gene flow, and the study explored the fitness benefits arising from suppressed recombination within the inversion.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Nicole L. Bedford, Jesse N. Weber, Wenfei Tong, Felix Baier, Ariana Kam, Rebecca A. Greenberg, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: Animals vary in their behavioral flexibility depending on social context. By comparing three species of deer mice, researchers found that mice living in monogamous societies were more likely to cooperate in digging longer burrows. Additionally, opposite-sex pairs were more socially cohesive and efficient digging partners than same-sex pairs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mehdi Khadraoui, Jennifer R. Merritt, Hopi E. Hoekstra, Andres Bendesky
Summary: Parental behaviors vary among species in terms of magnitude, onset relative to reproduction, and sexual dimorphism. In deer mice, promiscuous species show low paternal care, while monogamous species exhibit biparental care. The timing of parental behaviors also differs, with some species showing behaviors before mating and others only after giving birth. These patterns align with the socioecology of the species.
Article
Ecology
Olivia S. Harringmeyer, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: This study identified 21 large inversion polymorphisms in populations of deer mice, which are widespread and important for patterns of recombination and likely to be involved in local adaptation.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicholas Jourjine, Maya L. Woolfolk, Juan I. Sanguinetti-Scheck, John E. Sabatini, Sade McFadden, Anna K. Lindholm, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: It has been found that cries play an important role in parental care during the early stages of neonatal development in deer mice, while ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) play a role in later stages. By comparing the vocalization characteristics of different species and laboratory mice, it was found that even within the same species, there are differences in vocalization features among different populations. Through genetic cross experiments, it was found that vocalization features are genetically controlled, with different degrees of genetic dominance for different features.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Landen Gozashti, Cedric Feschotte, Hopi E. Hoekstra
Summary: The genomic landscape of transposable elements in deer mice is different from that of other mammals, with long terminal repeat elements being more common than long interspersed nuclear element retrotransposons. Deer mouse endogenous retroviruses exhibit diverse origins and have impacted the evolutionary trajectory of LINEs. The expansion of Kruppel-associated box domain-containing zinc finger genes, likely controlled by ectopic recombination between ERVs, is also observed in the deer mouse genome.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
E. R. Hager, E. P. Kingsley, O. S. Harringmeyer, H. E. Hoekstra
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jordan P. Lewandowski, Gabrijela Dumbovic, Audrey R. Watson, Taeyoung Hwang, Emily Jacobs-Palmer, Nydia Chang, Christian Much, Kyle M. Turner, Christopher Kirby, Nimrod D. Rubinstein, Abigail F. Groff, Steve C. Liapis, Chiara Gerhardinger, Assaf Bester, Pier Paolo Pandolfi, John G. Clohessy, Hopi E. Hoekstra, Martin Sauvageau, John L. Rinn
Meeting Abstract
Zoology
E. R. Hager, H. E. Hoekstra
INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY
(2019)