AISHILA KAR, AMITY UNIVERSITY KOLKATA
In step with University of Queensland research, some snakes have evolved a single genetic trick to avoid being eaten by venomous snakes.
Antagonistic interactions, like predator–prey relationships, are drivers of evolutionary novelty within the coevolution of the many organisms, with reciprocal selection pressures resulting in genotypic changes. This reciprocal evolution permits positive selection pressures to drive defensive and offensive adaptations in each predators and prey. Main example of this can be the evolution of venom which results in the event of resistance in an opposing predator or prey.
From UQ’s Evolution Lab, Professor Bryan Fry said the technique functioned in a same as the way two sides of a magnet repel one another.
Through evolutionary chemical arms races the evolution of venom resistance has arisen multiple times throughout animalia. Earlier documentation of resistance to venom α-neurotoxins consists of the N-glycosylation motif or the hypothesized introduction of arginine at positions 187 at the α-1 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, no further studies have investigated the likelihood of other potential sorts of resistance.
Using a bio layer interferometry assay, we first confirm that the previously hypothesized resistance conferred by arginine at position 187 within the musteline does reduce binding to α-neurotoxins, which has never been functionally tested.
Some snakes have evolved to exchange a charged aminoalkanoic acid on their receptor with a charged one, meaning the neurotoxin is repelled.
We’ve shown this trait has evolved a minimum of 10 times in numerous species of snakes.
The researchers found that the Burmese python – a slow-moving terrestrial species prone to predation by cobras – is extremely neurotoxin resistant. Likewise, South African mole snake, another slow-moving snake prone to cobras, is as well extremely resistant. But Asian pythons which board trees as babies, and Australian pythons which don’t live alongside neurotoxic snake-eating snake, don’t have this resistance. It’s also evolved in venomous snakes to be proof against their own neurotoxins on a minimum of twice.
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SOURCE- Electrostatic resistance to alpha-neurotoxins conferred by charge reversal mutations in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.2703
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