The genetics of venom ontogeny in the eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus).

ABSTRACT: The same selective forces that give rise to rapid inter- and intraspecific divergence in snake venoms can also favor differences in venoms across life-history stages. Ontogenetic changes in venom composition are well known and widespread in snakes but have not been investigated to the level of unambiguously identifying the specific loci involved. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake was previously shown to undergo an ontogenetic shift in venom composition at sexual maturity, and this shift accounted for more venom variation than geography. To characterize the genetics underlying the ontogenetic venom compositional change in C. adamanteus, we sequenced adult/juvenile pairs of venom-gland transcriptomes from five populations previously shown to have different adult venom compositions.

SUBMITTER: Rokyta DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5410154 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature