title: Mutations to the cardiotonic steroid binding site of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase are associated with high level of resistance to gamabufotalin in a natricine snake.
abstract: Although toads are defended by bufadienolide toxins, some snakes have evolved resistance to bufadienolides and feed heavily on toads. We compared resistance in Nerodia rhombifer, which possesses mutations that confer target-site resistance, to Pituophis catenifer, which lacks those mutations. Even at the highest dosage tested, Nerodia showed no effects, whereas the lowest dose was lethal to Pituophis. Our results demonstrate a striking level of resistance to bufadienolides in a species possessing the mutations for resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA; The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA. Electronic address: shab.mohammadi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA; The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
authors.forename: Edmund D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
authors.forename: Lorin A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Neuman-Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA; The Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322, USA.
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Savitzky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002018:Bufanolides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000378:metabolism; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D017812:Colubridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D009154:Mutation; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002018:Bufanolides; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; C000612263:gamabufotalin; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase
keywords: Bufadienolide; Bufophagy; Gamabufotalin; Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase; Snake; Toad; Toxin resistance