Early evolution of the venom system in lizards and snakes.
Among extant reptiles only two lineages are known to have evolved venom delivery systems, the advanced snakes and helodermatid lizards (Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard). Evolution of the venom system is thought to underlie the impressive radiation of the advanced snakes (2,500 of 3,000 snake species). In contrast, the lizard venom system is thought to be restricted to just two species and to have evolved independently from the snake venom system. Here we report the presence of venom toxins in two additional lizard lineages (Monitor Lizards and Iguania) and show that all lineages possessing toxin-secreting oral glands form a clade, demonstrating a single early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. Construction of gland complementary-DNA libraries and phylogenetic analysis of transcripts revealed that nine toxin types are shared between lizards and snakes. Toxinological analyses of venom components from the Lace Monitor Varanus varius showed potent effects on blood pressure and clotting ability, bioactivities associated with a rapid loss of consciousness and extensive bleeding in prey. The iguanian lizard Pogona barbata retains characteristics of the ancestral venom system, namely serial, lobular non-compound venom-secreting glands on both the upper and lower jaws, whereas the advanced snakes and anguimorph lizards (including Monitor Lizards, Gila Monster and Beaded Lizard) have more derived venom systems characterized by the loss of the mandibular (lower) or maxillary (upper) glands. Demonstration that the snakes, iguanians and anguimorphs form a single clade provides overwhelming support for a single, early origin of the venom system in lizards and snakes. These results provide new insights into the evolution of the venom system in squamate reptiles and open new avenues for biomedical research and drug design using hitherto unexplored venom proteins.
Fry
Bryan G
BG
Australian Venom Research Unit, Level 8, School of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia. bgf@unimelb.edu.au
Vidal
Nicolas
N
Norman
Janette A
JA
Vonk
Freek J
FJ
Scheib
Holger
H
Ramjan
S F Ryan
SF
Kuruppu
Sanjaya
S
Fung
Kim
K
Hedges
S Blair
SB
Richardson
Michael K
MK
Hodgson
Wayne C
WC
Ignjatovic
Vera
V
Summerhayes
Robyn
R
Kochva
Elazar
E
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008116:Lizards / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects; D011487:Protein Conformation; D051381:Rats; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D012911:Snakes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014688:Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
D012910:Snake Venoms; D014688:Venoms