TY - JOUR
T1 - Recurrent evolution of adhesive defence systems in amphibians by parallel shifts in gene expression
AU - Zaman, Shabnam
AU - Lengerer, Birgit
AU - Van Lindt, Joris
AU - Saenen, Indra
AU - Russo, Giorgio
AU - Bossaer, Laura
AU - Carpentier, Sebastien
AU - Tompa, Peter
AU - Flammang, Patrick
AU - Roelants, Kim
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/7/10
Y1 - 2024/7/10
N2 - Natural selection can drive organisms to strikingly similar adaptive solutions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms often remain unknown. Several amphibians have independently evolved highly adhesive skin secretions (glues) that support a highly effective antipredator defence mechanism. Here we demonstrate that the glue of the Madagascan tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti, relies on two interacting proteins: a highly derived member of a widespread glycoprotein family and a galectin. Identification of homologous proteins in other amphibians reveals that these proteins attained a function in skin long before glues evolved. Yet, major elevations in their expression, besides structural changes in the glycoprotein (increasing its structural disorder and glycosylation), caused the independent rise of glues in at least two frog lineages. Besides providing a model for the chemical functioning of animal adhesive secretions, our findings highlight how recruiting ancient molecular templates may facilitate the recurrent evolution of functional innovations.
AB - Natural selection can drive organisms to strikingly similar adaptive solutions, but the underlying molecular mechanisms often remain unknown. Several amphibians have independently evolved highly adhesive skin secretions (glues) that support a highly effective antipredator defence mechanism. Here we demonstrate that the glue of the Madagascan tomato frog, Dyscophus guineti, relies on two interacting proteins: a highly derived member of a widespread glycoprotein family and a galectin. Identification of homologous proteins in other amphibians reveals that these proteins attained a function in skin long before glues evolved. Yet, major elevations in their expression, besides structural changes in the glycoprotein (increasing its structural disorder and glycosylation), caused the independent rise of glues in at least two frog lineages. Besides providing a model for the chemical functioning of animal adhesive secretions, our findings highlight how recruiting ancient molecular templates may facilitate the recurrent evolution of functional innovations.
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49917-3
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198134862&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49917-3
DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-49917-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 38987280
VL - 15
JO - Nature Communications
JF - Nature Communications
SN - 2041-1723
IS - 1
M1 - 5612
ER -