Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation

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  Transcriptomic Insights Into the Evolution of Snake Venom: Mechanisms, Diversity, and Adaptation Abstract Snake venoms are evolutionarily refined biochemical arsenals composed of diverse toxins with complex functional roles in predation, defense, and competition. Over the past 2 decades, transcriptomic approaches have transformed venom research by enabling high-resolution insights into gene expression dynamics, molecular diversity, and the evolutionary mechanisms driving venom variation across lineages. In this review, we present a comprehensive synthesis of snake venom transcriptomics literature and propose a conceptual framework structured around three major axes: (1) gene family expansion through duplication and neofunctionalization; (2) regulatory complexity encompassing transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and epigenetic modulation; and (3) ecological selection pressures shaping venom profiles in response to diet, habitat, and interspecific interactions. We integrate findin...

A robust genome assembly with transcriptomic data from the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus

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A robust genome assembly with transcriptomic data from the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus

Abstract

Scorpions, a seemingly primitive, stinging arthropod taxa, are known to exhibit marked diversity in their venom components. These venoms are known for their human pathology, but they are also important as models for therapeutic and drug development applications. In this study, we report a high-quality genome assembly and annotation of the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, created with several shotgun libraries. The final assembly is 760 Mb in size, with a BUSCO score of 97.8%, a 30.85% GC, and an N50 of 2.35 Mb. We estimated 36,189 proteins with 37.32% assigned to Gene Ontology (GO) terms in our GO annotation analysis. We mapped venom toxin genes to 18 contigs and 2 scaffolds. We were also able to identify expression differences between venom gland (telson) and body tissue (carapace) with 19 sodium toxin and 14 potassium toxin genes to 18 contigs and 2 scaffolds. This assembly, along with our transcriptomic data, provides further data to investigate scorpion venom genomics.


Yamashita, T., Rhoads, D. D., & Pummill, J. A robust genome assembly with transcriptomic data from the striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkae120