Conotoxin diversification and evolution of venom peptides in cone snails. The marine snails of the genus Conus have evolved one of the most complex venoms that has emerged as a rich source of novel bioactive peptides. However, < 0.1% of their true potential has been characterised to-date. Using advanced genomic, proteomic, structural and pharmacological approaches pioneered in our laboratory, this study will decipher how conotoxin diversification from ancestral worm hunters facilitated the shift ....Conotoxin diversification and evolution of venom peptides in cone snails. The marine snails of the genus Conus have evolved one of the most complex venoms that has emerged as a rich source of novel bioactive peptides. However, < 0.1% of their true potential has been characterised to-date. Using advanced genomic, proteomic, structural and pharmacological approaches pioneered in our laboratory, this study will decipher how conotoxin diversification from ancestral worm hunters facilitated the shift in diet to modern fish and mollusc hunting species by determining the evolutionary trajectories of positively selected conotoxins. Investigation of the structure and function of these highly optimised venom peptides will provide new research tools and potential leads to new pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101481
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,000.00
Summary
Aquatic invasion of venomous snakes. Animal venoms target multiple physiological pathways to rapidly disrupt homeostasis and cause paralysis and death of prey animals. Physiological protein-encoding genes are recruited into the envenoming function, which then evolve to be highly effective on their molecular targets. The expansion of venom complexity due to the predator-prey chemical 'arms race' has given rise to a plethora of toxin types. While examples of venoms that have become subsequently st ....Aquatic invasion of venomous snakes. Animal venoms target multiple physiological pathways to rapidly disrupt homeostasis and cause paralysis and death of prey animals. Physiological protein-encoding genes are recruited into the envenoming function, which then evolve to be highly effective on their molecular targets. The expansion of venom complexity due to the predator-prey chemical 'arms race' has given rise to a plethora of toxin types. While examples of venoms that have become subsequently streamlined and/or simplified in response to a change in environment and/or specialisation of diet are plenty, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This project aims to unravel how animal venoms become streamlined and uncover the underexplored vast pharmacopeia of aquatic venoms.Read moreRead less