Evolution of Centipede Venoms Under Morphological Constraint
Production and packaging of a biological arsenal: Evolution of centipede venoms under morphological constraint Eivind A. B. Undheima,b, Brett R. Hamiltonc,d, Nyoman D. Kurniawanb, Greg Bowlayc, Bronwen W. Cribbe, David J. Merritte, Bryan G. Frye, Glenn F. Kinga,1, and Deon J. Venterc,d,f,1 aInstitute for Molecular Bioscience, bCentre for Advanced Imaging, eSchool of Biological Sciences, fSchool of Medicine, and dMater Research Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia; and cPathology Department, Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia Edited by Jerrold Meinwald, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, and approved February 18, 2015 (received for review December 16, 2014) Venom represents one of the most extreme manifestations of (11). Similarly, the evolution of prey constriction in snakes has a chemical arms race. Venoms are complex biochemical arsenals, led to a reduction in, or secondary loss of, venom systems despite often containing hundreds to thousands of unique protein toxins. these species still feeding on formidable prey (12–15). However, Despite their utility for prey capture, venoms are energetically in centipedes (Chilopoda), which represent one of the oldest yet expensive commodities, and consequently it is hypothesized that least-studied venomous lineages on the planet, this inverse re- venom complexity is inversely related to the capacity of a venom- lationship between venom complexity and physical subdual of ous animal to physically subdue prey. Centipedes, one of the prey appears to be absent. oldest yet least-studied venomous lineages, appear to defy this There are ∼3,300 extant centipede species, divided across rule. Although scutigeromorph centipedes produce less complex five orders (16).
[Show full text]