Sex-based venom variation in the eastern bark centipede (Hemiscolopendra marginata)

摘要: Sexually dimorphic traits are widespread across metazoans and often the result of sex-specific inheritance or sex-based differences in gene expression. Intersexual have even been observed invertebrate venoms, although identification these has limited to more well-studied groups, such as scorpions spiders, where morphology behavior apparent. Recent studies on centipede venom identified evidence intraspecific variation, but intersexual not reported. To investigate potential for composition, we performed reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analyses five male 15 female eastern bark centipedes (Hemiscolopendra marginata) from Apalachicola National Forest northern Florida. After detecting a significant difference H. marginata completed high-throughput venom-gland transcriptomic proteomic analysis one determine genetic basis composition. We 47 proteomically confirmed toxins 717 nontoxin transcripts venom-glands. Of toxins, most abundantly expressed included ion channel-modulating so divergent any characterized homologs that they could be given functional classification, whereas were γ-glutamyl transferases CAPs (cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, pathogenesis-related 1 proteins). These then by performing replicate LC-MS/MS an additional three marginata. Our RP-HPLC approach resulted only in-depth characterization venom, represents first example variation venoms.