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Blaustein MP, Hamlyn JM. Sensational site: the sodium pump ouabain-binding site and its ligands. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2024; 326:C1120-C1177. [PMID: 38223926 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00273.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Cardiotonic steroids (CTS), used by certain insects, toads, and rats for protection from predators, became, thanks to Withering's trailblazing 1785 monograph, the mainstay of heart failure (HF) therapy. In the 1950s and 1960s, we learned that the CTS receptor was part of the sodium pump (NKA) and that the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger was critical for the acute cardiotonic effect of digoxin- and ouabain-related CTS. This "settled" view was upended by seven revolutionary observations. First, subnanomolar ouabain sometimes stimulates NKA while higher concentrations are invariably inhibitory. Second, endogenous ouabain (EO) was discovered in the human circulation. Third, in the DIG clinical trial, digoxin only marginally improved outcomes in patients with HF. Fourth, cloning of NKA in 1985 revealed multiple NKA α and β subunit isoforms that, in the rodent, differ in their sensitivities to CTS. Fifth, the NKA is a cation pump and a hormone receptor/signal transducer. EO binding to NKA activates, in a ligand- and cell-specific manner, several protein kinase and Ca2+-dependent signaling cascades that have widespread physiological effects and can contribute to hypertension and HF pathogenesis. Sixth, all CTS are not equivalent, e.g., ouabain induces hypertension in rodents while digoxin is antihypertensinogenic ("biased signaling"). Seventh, most common rodent hypertension models require a highly ouabain-sensitive α2 NKA and the elevated blood pressure is alleviated by EO immunoneutralization. These numerous phenomena are enabled by NKA's intricate structure. We have just begun to understand the endocrine role of the endogenous ligands and the broad impact of the ouabain-binding site on physiology and pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mordecai P Blaustein
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - John M Hamlyn
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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2
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Plata Á, Züst T, Bermejo A, Beitia FJ, Tena A. Exotic predators can sequester and use novel toxins from exotic non-coevolved prey. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232478. [PMID: 38471556 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Defensive chemicals of prey can be sequestered by some coevolved predators, which take advantage of prey toxins for their own defence. The increase in the number of invasive species in the Anthropocene has resulted in new interactions among non-coevolved predator and prey species. While novelty in chemical defence may provide a benefit for invasive prey against non-coevolved predators, resident predators with the right evolutionary pre-adaptations might benefit from sequestering these novel defences. Here, we chose a well-known system of invasive species to test whether non-coevolved predators can sequester and use toxins from exotic prey. Together with the invasive prickly pear plants, cochineal bugs (Dactylopius spp.) are spreading worldwide from their native range in the Americas. These insects produce carminic acid, a defensive anthraquinone that some specialized predators sequester for their own defence. Using this system, we first determined whether coccinellids that prey on cochineal bugs in the Mediterranean region tolerated, sequestered, and released carminic acid in reflex bleeding. Then, we quantified the deterrent effect of carminic acid against antagonistic ants. Our results demonstrate that the Australian coccinellid Cryptolaemus montrouzieri sequestered carminic acid, a substance absent in its coevolved prey, from exotic cochineal bugs. When attacked, the predator released this substance through reflex bleeding at concentrations that were deterrent against antagonistic ants. These findings reveal that non-coevolved predators can sequester and use novel toxins from exotic prey and highlights the surprising outcomes of novel interactions that arise from species invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel Plata
- Centro de Protección Vegetal y Biotecnología, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Tobias Züst
- Department of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Almudena Bermejo
- Centro de Citricultura y Producción Vegetal, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Francisco José Beitia
- Centro de Protección Vegetal y Biotecnología, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain
| | - Alejandro Tena
- Centro de Protección Vegetal y Biotecnología, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Valencia, Spain
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3
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Sawada K, Inoue T, Mori N, Mori A, Kamijo T. DO Toxic Invasive Prey Become a Toxin Source for Native Consumers? J Chem Ecol 2023:10.1007/s10886-023-01460-z. [PMID: 37882872 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-023-01460-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Toxic organisms can become food that potentially harms consumers. When these organisms become invasive species, the harm often turns to a serious threat that disrupts native ecosystems. On the other hand, there are consumers that can exploit toxic organisms for food and sequester intact toxins from them for the consumers' own chemical defense. Therefore, it can be expected that toxic invasive prey can become a toxin source for native consumers. Here, we focused on the relationship between toads, which are one of the major toxic invasive organisms and possess bufadienolides (BDs), and Rhabdophis snakes, which sequester BDs from toads. On Sado Island, Japan, R. tigrinus is native, but no toads had inhabited this island until Bufo japonicus formosus was introduced as a domestic invasive species in 1963 and 1964. At present, invasive toads are distributed only in the southwestern part of the island. We collected a total of 25 and 24 R. tigrinus from areas allopatric and sympatric with toads, respectively. Then, we investigated the possession of BDs and the BD profile of these snakes. We found that only R. tigrinus sympatric with toads possessed BDs, whereas all snakes allopatric with toads lacked BDs. Based on the characteristics of the BD profile, the toxin source was identified as B. j. formosus. Our findings show that a new case of impact caused by toxic invasive species, i.e., "toxin supply to native consumers from invasive prey", could occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyoto Sawada
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Ten-nodai, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan.
| | - Takato Inoue
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Akira Mori
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takashi Kamijo
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Ten-nodai, Tsukuba, 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan
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4
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Hague MTJ, Miller LE, Stokes AN, Feldman CR, Brodie ED, Brodie ED. Conspicuous coloration of toxin-resistant predators implicates additional trophic interactions in a predator-prey arms race. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:4482-4496. [PMID: 36336815 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Antagonistic coevolution between natural enemies can produce highly exaggerated traits, such as prey toxins and predator resistance. This reciprocal process of adaptation and counter-adaptation may also open doors to other evolutionary novelties not directly involved in the phenotypic interface of coevolution. We tested the hypothesis that predator-prey coevolution coincided with the evolution of conspicuous coloration on resistant predators that retain prey toxins. In western North America, common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) have evolved extreme resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) in the coevolutionary arms race with their deadly prey, Pacific newts (Taricha spp.). TTX-resistant snakes can retain large amounts of ingested TTX, which could serve as a deterrent against the snakes' own predators if TTX toxicity and resistance are coupled with a conspicuous warning signal. We evaluated whether arms race escalation covaries with bright red coloration in snake populations across the geographic mosaic of coevolution. Snake colour variation departs from the neutral expectations of population genetic structure and covaries with escalating clines of newt TTX and snake resistance at two coevolutionary hotspots. In the Pacific Northwest, bright red coloration fits an expected pattern of an aposematic warning to avian predators: TTX-resistant snakes that consume highly toxic newts also have relatively large, reddish-orange dorsal blotches. Snake coloration also seems to have evolved with the arms race in California, but overall patterns are less intuitively consistent with aposematism. These results suggest that interactions with additional trophic levels can generate novel traits as a cascading consequence of arms race coevolution across the geographic mosaic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T J Hague
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Lauren E Miller
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Amber N Stokes
- Department of Biology, California State University, Bakersfield, California, USA
| | - Chris R Feldman
- Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada, USA
| | - Edmund D Brodie
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Edmund D Brodie
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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5
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Yang S, Savitzky AH, Gower DJ, Deepak V, Mori A, Khot R, Shi J, Ding L, Hou M, Xu H, Wang Q, Zhu G. Identity of the holotype and type locality of Rhabdophis leonardi (Wall, 1923) (Colubridae: Natricinae), with notes on the morphology and natural history of the species in southwestern China. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10032. [PMID: 37153019 PMCID: PMC10154373 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The original description of Natrix leonardi (currently Rhabdophis leonardi) by Frank Wall in 1923, based on a specimen from the "Upper Burma Hills," lacked important morphological details that have complicated the assignment of recently collected material. Furthermore, although the holotype was never lost, its location has been misreported in one important taxonomic reference, leading to further confusion. We report the correct repository of the holotype (Natural History Museum, London), together with its current catalog number. We also describe key features of that specimen that were omitted from the original description, and provide new details on the morphology of the species, including sexual dichromatism unusual for the genus, based upon specimens from southern Sichuan, China. Rhabdophis leonardi is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: 15 or 17 DSR at midbody and 6 supralabials; distinct annulus around the neck, broad and red in males, and narrow and orange with a black border in females; dorsal ground color light green or olive; some lateral and dorsal scales possessing black edges, the frequency of black edges gradually increasing from anterior to posterior, forming irregular and ill-defined transverse black bands; eye with prominent green iris; black ventral spots with a red edge, most numerous at midbody but extending halfway down the length of the tail. In southwestern China, this species is frequently found at 1730-2230 m elevation. It has been documented to prey upon anuran amphibians, including toads. A recently published phylogenetic analysis showed this species to be deeply nested with the genus Rhabdophis, as a member of the R. nuchalis Group. That analysis also revealed the existence of two closely related but geographically distinct subclades in the molecular analysis, one of which may represent an unnamed taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi‐Jun Yang
- College of Life ScienceSichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anChina
| | | | | | - V. Deepak
- Senckenberg Natural History CollectionsDresdenGermany
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of ScienceKyoto UniversitySakyoKyotoJapan
| | - Rahul Khot
- Bombay Natural History SocietyFort, MumbaiIndia
| | - Jing‐Song Shi
- Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of SciencesInstitute of Vertebrate Paleontology and PaleoanthropologyChinese Academy of ScienceBeijingChina
| | - Li Ding
- Chengdu Institute of BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Mian Hou
- Sichuan Normal UniversityChengduChina
| | - Hai‐Yuan Xu
- College of Life ScienceSichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anChina
| | - Qin Wang
- College of Life ScienceSichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anChina
| | - Guang‐Xiang Zhu
- College of Life ScienceSichuan Agricultural UniversityYa'anChina
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Medina-Ortiz K, Navia F, Mosquera-Gil C, Sánchez A, Sterling G, Fierro L, Castaño S. Identification of the NA +/K +-ATPase α-Isoforms in Six Species of Poison Dart Frogs and their Sensitivity to Cardiotonic Steroids. J Chem Ecol 2023; 49:116-132. [PMID: 36877397 PMCID: PMC10102066 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-023-01404-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) are a group of compounds known to be toxic due to their ability to inhibit the Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), which is essential to maintain the balance of ions in animal cells. An evolutionary strategy of molecular adaptation to avoid self-intoxication acquired by CTS defended organisms and their predators is the structural modification of their NKA where specific amino acid substitutions confer resistant phenotypes. Several lineages of poison dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) are well known to sequester a wide variety of lipophilic alkaloids from their arthropod diet, however there is no evidence of CTS-sequestration or dietary exposure. Interestingly this study identified the presence of α-NKA isoforms (α1 and α2) with amino acid substitutions indicative of CTS-resistant phenotypes in skeletal muscle transcriptomes obtained from six species of dendrobatids: Phyllobates aurotaenia, Oophaga anchicayensis, Epipedobates boulengeri, Andinobates bombetes, Andinobates minutus, and Leucostethus brachistriatus, collected in the Valle del Cauca (Colombia). P. aurotaenia, A. minutus, and E. boulengeri presented two variants for α1-NKA, with one of them having these substitutions. In contrast, O. anchicayensis and A. bombetes have only one α1-NKA isoform with an amino acid sequence indicative of CTS susceptibility and an α2-NKA with one substitution that could confer a reduced affinity for CTS. The α1 and α2 isoforms of L. brachistriatus do not contain substitutions imparting CTS resistance. Our findings indicate that poison dart frogs express α-NKA isoforms with different affinities for CTS and the pattern of this expression might be influenced by factors related to evolutionary, physiological, ecological, and geographical burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Medina-Ortiz
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
| | - Felipe Navia
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Claudia Mosquera-Gil
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Adalberto Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Gonzalo Sterling
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Leonardo Fierro
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | - Santiago Castaño
- Laboratorio de Herpetología Y Toxinología, Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia.
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Petschenka G, Züst T, Hastings AP, Agrawal AA, Jander G. Quantification of plant cardenolides by HPLC, measurement of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase inhibition activity, and characterization of target enzymes. Methods Enzymol 2023; 680:275-302. [PMID: 36710014 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The biosynthesis of cardiac glycosides, broadly classified as cardenolides and bufadienolides, has evolved repeatedly among flowering plants. Individual species can produce dozens or even hundreds of structurally distinct cardiac glycosides. Although all cardiac glycosides exhibit biological activity by inhibiting the function of the essential Na+/K+-ATPase in animal cells, they differ in their level of inhibitory activity. For within- and between-species comparisons of cardiac glycosides to address ecological and evolutionary questions, it is necessary to not only quantify their relative abundance, but also their effectiveness in inhibiting the activity of different animal Na+/K+-ATPases. Here we describe protocols for characterizing the amount and toxicity of cardenolides from plant samples and the degree of insect Na+/K+-ATPase tolerance to inhibition: (1) an HPLC-based assay to quantify the abundance of individual cardenolides in plant extracts, (2) an assay to quantify inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase activity by plant extracts, and (3) extraction of insect Na+/K+-ATPases for inhibition assays.
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8
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Mohammadi S, Yang L, Bulbert M, Rowland HM. Defence mitigation by predators of chemically defended prey integrated over the predation sequence and across biological levels with a focus on cardiotonic steroids. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220363. [PMID: 36133149 PMCID: PMC9449480 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Predator-prey interactions have long served as models for the investigation of adaptation and fitness in natural environments. Anti-predator defences such as mimicry and camouflage provide some of the best examples of evolution. Predators, in turn, have evolved sensory systems, cognitive abilities and physiological resistance to prey defences. In contrast to prey defences which have been reviewed extensively, the evolution of predator counter-strategies has received less attention. To gain a comprehensive view of how prey defences can influence the evolution of predator counter-strategies, it is essential to investigate how and when selection can operate. In this review we evaluate how predators overcome prey defences during (i) encounter, (ii) detection, (iii) identification, (iv) approach, (v) subjugation, and (vi) consumption. We focus on prey that are protected by cardiotonic steroids (CTS)-defensive compounds that are found in a wide range of taxa, and that have a specific physiological target. In this system, coevolution is well characterized between specialist insect herbivores and their host plants but evidence for coevolution between CTS-defended prey and their predators has received less attention. Using the predation sequence framework, we organize 574 studies reporting predators overcoming CTS defences, integrate these counter-strategies across biological levels of organization, and discuss the costs and benefits of attacking CTS-defended prey. We show that distinct lineages of predators have evolved dissecting behaviour, changes in perception of risk and of taste perception, and target-site insensitivity. We draw attention to biochemical, hormonal and microbiological strategies that have yet to be investigated as predator counter-adaptations to CTS defences. We show that the predation sequence framework will be useful for organizing future studies of chemically mediated systems and coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Mohammadi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Institut für Zell- und Systembiologie der Tiere, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Lu Yang
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew Bulbert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Oxford Brookes, Oxford, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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9
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Mohammadi S, Yang L, Bulbert M, Rowland HM. Defence mitigation by predators of chemically defended prey integrated over the predation sequence and across biological levels with a focus on cardiotonic steroids. R Soc Open Sci 2022; 9:220363. [PMID: 36133149 DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.c.6168216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Predator-prey interactions have long served as models for the investigation of adaptation and fitness in natural environments. Anti-predator defences such as mimicry and camouflage provide some of the best examples of evolution. Predators, in turn, have evolved sensory systems, cognitive abilities and physiological resistance to prey defences. In contrast to prey defences which have been reviewed extensively, the evolution of predator counter-strategies has received less attention. To gain a comprehensive view of how prey defences can influence the evolution of predator counter-strategies, it is essential to investigate how and when selection can operate. In this review we evaluate how predators overcome prey defences during (i) encounter, (ii) detection, (iii) identification, (iv) approach, (v) subjugation, and (vi) consumption. We focus on prey that are protected by cardiotonic steroids (CTS)-defensive compounds that are found in a wide range of taxa, and that have a specific physiological target. In this system, coevolution is well characterized between specialist insect herbivores and their host plants but evidence for coevolution between CTS-defended prey and their predators has received less attention. Using the predation sequence framework, we organize 574 studies reporting predators overcoming CTS defences, integrate these counter-strategies across biological levels of organization, and discuss the costs and benefits of attacking CTS-defended prey. We show that distinct lineages of predators have evolved dissecting behaviour, changes in perception of risk and of taste perception, and target-site insensitivity. We draw attention to biochemical, hormonal and microbiological strategies that have yet to be investigated as predator counter-adaptations to CTS defences. We show that the predation sequence framework will be useful for organizing future studies of chemically mediated systems and coevolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Mohammadi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Institut für Zell- und Systembiologie der Tiere, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
| | - Lu Yang
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew Bulbert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Oxford Brookes, Oxford, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Germany
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10
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Durso AM, Kieran TJ, Glenn TC, Mullin SJ. Comparison of Three Methods for Measuring Dietary Composition of Plains Hog-nosed Snakes. HERPETOLOGICA 2022. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-21-00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Durso
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920, USA
| | - Troy J. Kieran
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Travis C. Glenn
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Stephen J. Mullin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL 61920, USA
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11
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Pearson KC, Tarvin RD. A review of chemical defense in harlequin toads (Bufonidae: Atelopus). Toxicon X 2022; 13:100092. [PMID: 35146414 PMCID: PMC8801762 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Toads of the genus Atelopus are chemically defended by a unique combination of endogenously synthesized cardiotoxins (bufadienolides) and neurotoxins which may be sequestered (guanidinium alkaloids). Investigation into Atelopus small-molecule chemical defenses has been primarily concerned with identifying and characterizing various forms of these toxins while largely overlooking their ecological roles and evolutionary implications. In addition to describing the extent of knowledge about Atelopus toxin structures, pharmacology, and biological sources, we review the detection, identification, and quantification methods used in studies of Atelopus toxins to date and conclude that many known toxin profiles are unlikely to be comprehensive because of methodological and sampling limitations. Patterns in existing data suggest that both environmental (toxin availability) and genetic (capacity to synthesize or sequester toxins) factors influence toxin profiles. From an ecological and evolutionary perspective, we summarize the possible selective pressures acting on Atelopus toxicity and toxin profiles, including predation, intraspecies communication, disease, and reproductive status. Ultimately, we intend to provide a basis for future ecological, evolutionary, and biochemical research on Atelopus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kannon C. Pearson
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rebecca D. Tarvin
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology and Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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12
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Abstract
Toxin evolution in animals is one of the most fascinating and complex subjects of scientific inquiry today. Gaining an understanding of toxins poses a multifaceted challenge given the diverse modes of acquisition, evolutionary adaptations, and abiotic components that affect toxin phenotypes. Here, we highlight some of the main genetic and ecological factors that influence toxin evolution and discuss the role of antagonistic interactions and coevolutionary dynamics in shaping the direction and extent of toxicity and resistance in animals. We focus on toxic Pacific newts (family Salamandridae, genus Taricha) as a system to investigate and better evaluate the widely distributed toxin they possess, tetrodotoxin (TTX), and the hypothesized model of arms-race coevolution with snake predators that is used to explain phenotypic patterns of newt toxicity. Finally, we propose an alternative coevolutionary model that incorporates TTX-producing bacteria and draws from an elicitor-receptor concept to explain TTX evolution and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Bucciarelli
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; , , .,La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Farid Alsalek
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; , ,
| | - L B Kats
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, USA; ,
| | - D B Green
- Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, USA; ,
| | - H B Shaffer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; , , .,La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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13
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Fukuda M, Ujiie R, Inoue T, Chen Q, Cao C, Ding L, Mori N, Mori A. Do predators prefer toxic animals? A case of chemical discrimination by an Asian snake that sequesters firefly toxins. Curr Zool 2021; 68:627-634. [PMID: 36743225 PMCID: PMC9892790 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoab102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Several Asian natricine snakes of the genus Rhabdophis feed on toads and sequester steroidal cardiac toxins known as bufadienolides (BDs) from them. A recent study revealed that species of the Rhabdophis nuchalis Group ingest lampyrine fireflies to sequester BDs. Although several species of fireflies are distributed in the habitat of the R. nuchalis Group, only lampyrine fireflies, which have BDs, are included in the diet of these snakes. Thus, we hypothesized that the R. nuchalis Group chemically distinguishes fireflies that have BDs from those that do not have BDs. We also predicted that the R. nuchalis Group detects BDs as the chemical cue of toxin source. To test these predictions, we conducted 3 behavioral experiments using Rhabdophis chiwen, which belongs to the R. nuchalis Group. In the first experiment, R. chiwen showed a moderate tongue flicking response to cinobufagin, a compound of BDs. On the other hand, the snake showed a higher response to the chemical stimuli of lampyrine fireflies (BD fireflies) than those of lucioline fireflies (non-BD fireflies). In the second experiment, in which we provided live BD and non-BD fireflies, the snake voluntarily consumed only the former. In the third, a Y-maze experiment, the snake tended to select the chemical trail of BD fireflies more frequently than that of non-BD fireflies. These results demonstrated that R. chiwen discriminates BD fireflies from non-BD fireflies, but the prediction that BDs are involved in this discrimination was not fully supported. To identify the proximate mechanisms of the recognition of novel toxic prey in the R. nuchalis Group, further investigation is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Fukuda
- Address correspondence to Masaya Fukuda and Qin Chen. E-mail: and E-mail:
| | - Rinako Ujiie
- Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takato Inoue
- Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Qin Chen
- Address correspondence to Masaya Fukuda and Qin Chen. E-mail: and E-mail:
| | - Chengquan Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Leshan Normal University, Leshan, Sichuan 614000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Naoki Mori
- Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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Berger A, Petschenka G, Degenkolb T, Geisthardt M, Vilcinskas A. Insect Collections as an Untapped Source of Bioactive Compounds-Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) and Cardiotonic Steroids as a Proof of Concept. Insects 2021; 12:689. [PMID: 34442254 PMCID: PMC8396437 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Natural history collections provide an invaluable basis for systematics, ecology, and conservation. Besides being an important source of DNA, museum specimens may also contain a plethora of natural products. Especially, dried insect collections represent a global repository with billions of inventoried vouchers. Due to their vast diversity, insects possess a great variety of defensive compounds, which they either produce autogenously or derive from the environment. Here, we present a case study on fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), which produce bufadienolides as a defense against predators. These toxins belong to the cardiotonic steroids, which are used for the treatment of cardiac diseases and specifically inhibit the animal enzyme Na+/K+-ATPase. Bufadienolides have been reported from only seven out of approximately 2000 described firefly species. Using a non-destructive approach, we screened 72 dry coleopteran specimens for bufadienolides using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-MS. We found bufadienolides including five novel compounds in 21 species of the subfamily Lampyrinae. The absence of bufadienolides in the phylogenetically related net-winged beetles (Lycidae) and the lampyrid subfamilies Luciolinae and Lamprohizinae indicates a phylogenetic pattern of bufadienolide synthesis. Our results emphasize the value of natural history collections as an archive of chemical information for ecological and evolutionary basic research and as an untapped source for novel bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Berger
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26–32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (A.B.); (T.D.)
| | - Georg Petschenka
- Department of Applied Entomology, Institute of Phytomedicine, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, University of Hohenheim, Otto-Sander-Strasse 5, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Thomas Degenkolb
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26–32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (A.B.); (T.D.)
| | | | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26–32, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (A.B.); (T.D.)
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergs-weg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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15
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Mori N, Noge K. Recent advances in chemical ecology: complex interactions mediated by molecules. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2021; 85:33-41. [PMID: 33577654 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Chemical ecology is the highly interdisciplinary study of biochemicals that mediate the behavior of organisms and the regulation of physiological changes that alter intraspecific and/or interspecific interactions. Significant advances are often achieved through the collaboration of chemists and biologists working to understand organismal survival strategies with an eye on the development of targeted technologies for controlling agricultural, forestry, medical, and veterinary pests in a sustainable world. We highlight recent advances in chemical ecology from multiple viewpoints and discuss future prospects for applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Mori
- Division of Applied Life Sciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Koji Noge
- Department of Biological Production, Faculty of Bioresource Sciences, Akita Prefectural University, Shimoshinjyo-Nakano, Akita, Japan
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16
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Fukuda M, Mori A. Does an Asian Natricine Snake, Rhabdophis tigrinus, Have Chemical Preference for a Skin Toxin of Toads? Current Herpetology 2021. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.40.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Fukuda
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606–8502, JAPAN
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606–8502, JAPAN
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17
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Inoue T, Nakata R, Savitzky AH, Yoshinaga N, Mori A, Mori N. Variation in Bufadienolide Composition of Parotoid Gland Secretion From Three Taxa of Japanese Toads. J Chem Ecol 2020; 46:997-1009. [PMID: 32996040 DOI: 10.1007/s10886-020-01217-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Toads of the genus Bufo synthesize and accumulate bufadienolides (BDs) in their parotoid glands. BDs are cardiotonic steroids that play an important role in defense against the toads' predators. Three bufonid taxa occur in mainland Japan, Bufo japonicus formosus, B. j. japonicus, and B. torrenticola. The chemical structures of BDs isolated from B. j. formosus were studied several decades ago, but there is no further information on the toxic components of Japanese toads and their metabolism. In this study, we analyzed BDs of toads from throughout Japan and compared the BD profiles by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). We observed BDs in three taxa of Japanese toads, and identified five of the most common BDs by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses. Of the five BDs, only bufalin was detected in all individuals. HCA of individual BD profiles divided the three taxa into five primary clusters and several subclusters. This result indicates that BD profiles differ both among and within the taxa. The clustering pattern of BDs is generally concordant with a phylogenetic tree reconstructed from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of Japanese toads. Our results suggest that the BDs of Japanese toads have diversified not in response to specific selective pressures, but simply due to population structuring over evolutionary time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takato Inoue
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Ryu Nakata
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, 1-1 Nanjo Otani, Sogabe, Kameoka, Kyoto, 621-8555, Japan
| | - Alan H Savitzky
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5305, USA
| | - Naoko Yoshinaga
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Akira Mori
- Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakwa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Naoki Mori
- Division of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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18
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Chang KC, Huang YK, Chen YW, Chen MH, Tu AT, Chen YC. Venom Ophthalmia and Ocular Complications Caused by Snake Venom. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:E576. [PMID: 32911777 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12090576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the detailed clinical description, pathophysiology, and efficacy of treatments for ocular envenoming (venom ophthalmia) caused by venom of the spitting elapid and other snakes, as well as ocular complications caused by snake venom injection. In this paper, we review clinical information of case reports regarding venom ophthalmia and snake venom injection with associated ocular injuries in Asia, Africa, and the United States. We also review the literature of snake venom such as their compositions, properties, and toxic effects. Based on the available clinical information and animal studies, we further discuss possible mechanisms of venom ophthalmia derived from two different routes (Duvernoy's gland in the mouth and nuchal gland in the dorsal neck) and the pathophysiology of snake venom injection induced ocular complications, including corneal edema, corneal erosion, cataract, ocular inflammation, retinal hemorrhage, acute angle closure glaucoma, as well as ptosis, diplopia, and photophobia. Finally, we discuss the appropriate first aid and novel strategies for treating venom ophthalmia and snake envenoming.
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19
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Zhu GX, Yang S, Savitzky AH, Zhang L, Cheng Y, Wang J. The Nucho-dorsal Glands of Rhabdophis guangdongensis (Squamata: Colubridae: Natricinae), with Notes on Morphological Variation and Phylogeny Based on Additional Specimens. Current Herpetology 2020. [DOI: 10.5358/hsj.39.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Xiang Zhu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China
| | - Shijun Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China
| | - Alan H. Savitzky
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322–5305, USA
| | - Liang Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangdong 510260, China
| | - Yuqi Cheng
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China
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