Prevalent bee venom genes evolved before the aculeate stinger and eusociality.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Venoms, which have evolved numerous times in animals, are ideal models of convergent trait evolution. However, detailed genomic studies of toxin-encoding genes exist for only a few animal groups. The hyper-diverse hymenopteran insects are the most speciose venomous clade, but investigation of the origin of their venom genes has been largely neglected.

Results

Utilizing a combination of genomic and proteo-transcriptomic data, we investigated the origin of 11 toxin genes in 29 published and 3 new hymenopteran genomes and compiled an up-to-date list of prevalent bee venom proteins. Observed patterns indicate that bee venom genes predominantly originate through single gene co-option with gene duplication contributing to subsequent diversification.

Conclusions

M

SUBMITTER: Koludarov I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10591384 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature