Schendel Vanessa, Hamilton Brett R, Robinson Samuel D, Green Kathryn, Sayre Marcel E, Brown Darren, Stow Jennifer L, Øyen Jan Philip, Voje Kjetil L, Millard S Sean, Vetter Irina, Rash Lachlan D, Undheim Eivind A B
Centre for Advanced Imaging, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
Nat Ecol Evol. 2025 Jan;9(1):73-86. doi: 10.1038/s41559-024-02556-9. Epub 2024 Nov 4.
Venoms are biochemical arsenals that have emerged in numerous animal lineages, where they have co-evolved with morphological and behavioural traits for venom production and delivery. In centipedes, venom evolution is thought to be constrained by the morphological complexity of their venom glands due to physiological limitations on the number of toxins produced by their secretory cells. Here we show that the uneven toxin expression that results from these limitations have enabled Scolopendra morsitans to regulate the composition of their secreted venom despite the lack of gross morphologically complex venom glands. We show that this control is probably achieved by a combination of this heterogenous toxin distribution with a dual mechanism of venom secretion that involves neuromuscular innervation as well as stimulation via neurotransmitters. Our results suggest that behavioural control over venom composition may be an overlooked aspect of venom biology and provide an example of how exaptation can facilitate evolutionary innovation and novelty.
毒液是在众多动物谱系中出现的生化武器库，在这些谱系中，它们与毒液产生和输送的形态及行为特征共同进化。在蜈蚣中，由于其分泌细胞产生毒素数量的生理限制，毒液的进化被认为受到其毒腺形态复杂性的制约。在此，我们表明，尽管缺乏形态上复杂的大型毒腺，但这些限制导致的毒素表达不均，使少棘蜈蚣能够调节其分泌毒液的成分。我们表明，这种控制可能是通过这种异质毒素分布与毒液分泌的双重机制相结合来实现的，该机制涉及神经肌肉支配以及神经递质的刺激。我们的结果表明，对毒液成分的行为控制可能是毒液生物学中一个被忽视的方面，并提供了一个适应如何促进进化创新和新奇性的例子。
