Article
Speciation of cone snails and interspecific hyperdivergence of their venom peptides. Potential evolutionary significance of introns.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences - 18 May 1999
Olivera B M, Walker C, Cartier G E, Hooper D, Santos A D, Schoenfeld R, Shetty R, Watkins M, Bandyopadhyay P, Hillyard D R
Abstract excerpt
All 500 species of cone snails (Conus) are venomous predators. From a biochemical/genetic perspective, differences among Conus species may be based on the 50-200 different peptides in the venom of each species. Venom is used for prey capture as well as for interactions with predators and competitors. The venom of every species has its own distinct complement of peptides. Some of the interspecific divergence...
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