1. The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens.
- Author
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Walker AA, Mayhew ML, Jin J, Herzig V, Undheim EAB, Sombke A, Fry BG, Meritt DJ, and King GF
- Subjects
- Animals, Arthropod Venoms genetics, Arthropod Venoms toxicity, Biological Evolution, Exocrine Glands anatomy & histology, Exocrine Glands metabolism, Female, Insect Proteins genetics, Insect Proteins metabolism, Insect Proteins toxicity, Male, Predatory Behavior, Proteome genetics, Proteome metabolism, Reduviidae anatomy & histology, Reduviidae genetics, Transcriptome, Virulence genetics, Arthropod Venoms metabolism, Reduviidae physiology
- Abstract
The assassin bug venom system plays diverse roles in prey capture, defence and extra-oral digestion, but it is poorly characterised, partly due to its anatomical complexity. Here we demonstrate that this complexity results from numerous adaptations that enable assassin bugs to modulate the composition of their venom in a context-dependent manner. Gland reconstructions from multimodal imaging reveal three distinct venom gland lumens: the anterior main gland (AMG); posterior main gland (PMG); and accessory gland (AG). Transcriptomic and proteomic experiments demonstrate that the AMG and PMG produce and accumulate distinct sets of venom proteins and peptides. PMG venom, which can be elicited by electrostimulation, potently paralyses and kills prey insects. In contrast, AMG venom elicited by harassment does not paralyse prey insects, suggesting a defensive role. Our data suggest that assassin bugs produce offensive and defensive venoms in anatomically distinct glands, an evolutionary adaptation that, to our knowledge, has not been described for any other venomous animal.
- Published
- 2018
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