Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38987280›Full record

ArticleNature communications2024

Recurrent evolution of adhesive defence systems in amphibians by parallel shifts in gene expression.

Shabnam Zaman, Birgit Lengerer, Joris Van Lindt, Indra Saenen, Giorgio Russo, Laura Bossaer, Sebastien Carpentier, Peter Tompa, Patrick Flammang, Kim Roelants

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Sound healing and beyond.Nature biotechnology · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shabnam ZamanEcology, Evolution & Genetics Research Group (bDIV), Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-5399-0130
Birgit LengererBiology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, 7000, Mons, Belgium.
Joris Van LindtCenter for Structural Biology, VIB-VUB and Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Indra SaenenEcology, Evolution & Genetics Research Group (bDIV), Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Giorgio RussoCenter for Structural Biology, VIB-VUB and Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.
Laura BossaerEcology, Evolution & Genetics Research Group (bDIV), Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-8872-3945
Sebastien CarpentierProteomics Core - SyBioMa, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Herestraat 49 - 03.313, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Peter TompaCenter for Structural Biology, VIB-VUB and Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-8042-9939
Patrick FlammangBiology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 23, 7000, Mons, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-9938-1154
Kim RoelantsEcology, Evolution & Genetics Research Group (bDIV), Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050, Brussels, Belgium. Kim.Roelants@vub.be.ORCID 0000-0001-5367-5958

Funding

Austrian Science Fund (Fonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung) ESP 15Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Université Libre de Bruxelles) SRP30
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

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.

Indexed as

AnuraSkinAmphibian ProteinsAmphibiansAnimalsBiological EvolutionEvolution, MolecularGalectinsGlycoproteinsPhylogenyAmphibian ProteinsGalectinsGlycoproteins

Identifiers

PMID38987280
PMCPMC11237159

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.