IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/nature/v434y2005i7034d10.1038_nature03444.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evolutionary diversification of TTX-resistant sodium channels in a predator–prey interaction

Author

Listed:
  • Shana L. Geffeney

    (Utah State University)

  • Esther Fujimoto

    (Utah State University
    University of Utah School of Medicine)

  • Edmund D. Brodie

    (Indiana University)

  • Edmund D. Brodie

    (Utah State University)

  • Peter C. Ruben

    (Utah State University)

Abstract

Understanding the molecular genetic basis of adaptations provides incomparable insight into the genetic mechanisms by which evolutionary diversification takes place. Whether the evolution of common traits in different lineages proceeds by similar or unique mutations, and the degree to which phenotypic evolution is controlled by changes in gene regulation as opposed to gene function, are fundamental questions in evolutionary biology that require such an understanding of genetic mechanisms1,2,3. Here we identify novel changes in the molecular structure of a sodium channel expressed in snake skeletal muscle, tsNaV1.4, that are responsible for differences in tetrodotoxin (TTX) resistance among garter snake populations coevolving with toxic newts4. By the functional expression of tsNaV1.4, we show how differences in the amino-acid sequence of the channel affect TTX binding and impart different levels of resistance in four snake populations. These results indicate that the evolution of a physiological trait has occurred through a series of unique functional changes in a gene that is otherwise highly conserved among vertebrates.

Suggested Citation

  • Shana L. Geffeney & Esther Fujimoto & Edmund D. Brodie & Edmund D. Brodie & Peter C. Ruben, 2005. "Evolutionary diversification of TTX-resistant sodium channels in a predator–prey interaction," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7034), pages 759-763, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7034:d:10.1038_nature03444
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03444
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature03444
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/nature03444?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7034:d:10.1038_nature03444. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.