Evolution of defensive and predatory venom in cone snails

本研究旨在探讨锥螺毒液产生与释放的分子与细胞起源与调控机制，以建立锥螺防御性毒液的演化机制。锥螺具有显着的能力，快速和可逆的切换不同的毒液之间的反应，捕食或防御刺激，这意味着这些是单独的进化和调节机制。研究人员假设，防御性毒液最初在近端毒液管中进化，以防止头足类动物和鱼类捕食等威胁，已在近端管道中重新定位，以允许捕食者成为猎物，促进从蠕虫到软体动物和鱼类狩猎的转变。该项目旨在展示动物毒液进化的广泛意义，并发现驱动毒液肽表达的调控机制。

This project aims to determine the molecular and cellular origins and mechanisms regulating venom production and release to establish how defensive venoms evolved in cone snails. Cone snails possess a remarkable ability to rapidly and reversibly switch between separate venoms in response to predatory or defensive stimuli, implying that these are separately evolved and regulated mechanisms. The investigators hypothesise that defensive venoms, originally evolved in the proximal venom duct to protect against threats such as cephalopod and fish predation, have been repurposed in the proximal duct to allow predators to become prey, facilitating the switch from worm to mollusc and fish hunting. The project aims to show the broad implications for the evolution of venoms in animals and discover the regulatory mechanisms driving venom peptide expression.