Transcriptome and proteome of Conus planorbis identify the nicotinic receptors as primary target for the defensive venom.
Most venomous predators have evolved complex venom primarily to immobilize their prey and secondarily to defend against predators. In a new paradigm, carnivorous marine gastropods of the genus Conus were shown to rapidly and reversibly switch between two types of venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimulus, suggesting that the defensive use of venom may have a more important role in venom evolution and specialization than previously thought. To further investigate this phenomenon, the defensive repertoire of a vermivorous species, Conus planorbis, was deciphered using second-generation sequencing coupled to high-throughput proteomics. The venom gland transcriptome of C. planorbis revealed 182 unique conotoxin precursors from 25 gene superfamilies, with superfamily T dominating in terms of read and paralog numbers. Analysis of the defense-evoked venom revealed that this vermivorous species uses a similarly complex arsenal to deter aggressors as more recently evolved fish- and mollusk-hunting species, with MS/MS validating 23 conotoxin sequences from six superfamilies. Pharmacological characterization of the defensive venom on human receptors identified the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as a primary target. This work provides the first insights into the composition and biological activity of specifically evolved defensive venoms in vermivorous cone snails.
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Ai-Hua
AH
Jin
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Irina
I
Vetter
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Siddhihalu W A
SW
Himaya
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Paul F
PF
Alewood
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Richard J
RJ
Lewis
The Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.|Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron, UMR 5247, Université Montpellier - CNRS, Montpellier, France.
Sébastien
S
Dutertre
D000818:Animals; D052078:Conus Snail / Q000378:metabolism*; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism*; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics*; D014688:Venoms / Q000378:metabolism
D020543:Proteome; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D014688:Venoms
Animal proteomics; Conotoxin; Conus planorbis; Mass spectrometry; Nicotinic receptors; Venomics