Sexually dimorphic venom proteins in long-jawed orb-weaving spiders (Tetragnatha) comprise novel gene families

Abstract

Venom has been associated with the ecological success of many groups of organisms, most notably reptiles, gastropods, and arachnids. In some cases, diversification has been directly linked to tailoring of venoms for dietary specialization. Spiders in particular are known for their diverse venoms and wide range of predatory behaviors, although there is much to learn about scales of variation in venom composition and function. The current study focuses on venom characteristics in different sexes within a species of spider. We chose the genus Tetragnatha (Tetragnathidae) because of its unusual courtship behavior involving interlocking of the venom delivering chelicerae (i.e., the jaws), and several species in the genus are already known to have sexually dimorphic venoms. Here, we use transcriptome and proteome analyses to identify venom components that are dimorphic in Tetragnatha versicolor. We present cDNA sequences including unique, male-specific high molecular weight proteins that have remote, if any, detectable similarity to known venom components in spiders or other venomous lineages and have no detectable homologs in existing databases. While the function of these proteins is not known, their presence in association with the cheliceral locking mechanism during mating together with the presence of prolonged male-male mating attempts in a related, cheliceral-locking species (Doryonychus raptor) lacking the dimorphism suggests potential for a role in sexual communication.

Spider Venom: Components, Modes of Action, and Novel Strategies in Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses

“…To what extend a specialization on one type of prey affects the composition of the venom is largely uninvestigated in spiders. However, a certain heterogeneity between venoms of individuals of the same species depending on age, gender, or geographic location has been reported and supports a possible adaptation of the venom composition [34,35]. Adaptive evolution of venom components on prey is described for other venomous animals, such as snakes [36,37,38], and cone snails [39,40].…”

Evolutionary Ecology of Fish Venom: Adaptations and Consequences of Evolving a Venom System

“…Sexual variation of venom composition has been documented for a few taxa, principally spiders, scorpions, snakes, and a species of fish [ 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 ]. Research on Thalassophyrne maculosa (cano toadfish) showed that male venom had double the protein content of that of females and differing bioactivities, with males having a greater target affinity to nociceptors whilst females had greater proteolytic activity [ 123 ].…”

A Multiomics Approach Unravels New Toxins With Possible In Silico Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Antitumoral Activities in the Venom of Acanthoscurria rondoniae

“…The advances in sensitivity and resolution of mass spectrometers as well as advances in DNA and RNA sequencing techniques have led to a remarkable increase in the number of toxins reported in the last years (Duan et al, 2013;Sanggaard et al, 2014;Zelanis and Keiji Tashima, 2014;Abreu et al, 2017;Zobel-Thropp et al, 2018;Langenegger et al, 2019). However, the increase in toxin identification is not synchronized with the functional description of new toxins, since the functional characterization involves a significant number of experimental processes.…”