title: Distribution of RPTLN Genes Across Reptilia: Hypothesized Role for RPTLN in the Evolution of SVMPs.
abstract: We report the cloning, full-length sequencing, and broad distribution of reptile-specific RPTLN genes across a number of Anapsida (Testudines), Diapsida (Serpentes, Sauria), and Archosauria (Crocodylia) taxa. The remarkable structural conservation of RPTLN genes in species that had a common ancestor more than 250 million years ago, their low transcriptional level, and the lack of evidence for RPTLN translation in any reptile organ investigated, suggest for this ancient gene family a yet elusive function as long noncoding RNAs. The high conservation in extant snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) of the signal peptide sequence coded for by RPTLN genes strongly suggests that this region may have played a key role in the recruitment and restricted expression of SVMP genes in the venom gland of Caenophidian snakes, some 60-50 Mya. More recently, 23-16 Mya, the neofunctionalization of an RPTLN copy in the venom gland of snakes of the genera Macrovipera and Daboia marked the beginning of the evolutionary history of a new family of disintegrins, the α1β1-collagen binding antagonists, short-RTS/KTS disintegrins. This evolutionary scenario predicts that venom gland RPTLN and SVMP genes may share tissue-specific regulatory elements. Future genomic studies should support or refute this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Jaime Roig 11, Valencia, 46010, Spain jcalvete@ibv.csic.es.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanz-Soler
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Jaime Roig 11, Valencia, 46010, Spain.
authors.forename: Libia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, CSIC, Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Jaime Roig 11, Valencia, 46010, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Calvete
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012104:Reptiles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D012910:Snake Venoms; D045726:Metalloproteases