Genome sequencing and neurotoxin diversity of a wandering spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (pond wolf spider)

Yu, N.; Li, J.; Liu, M.; Huang, L.; Bao, H.; Yang, Z.; Zhang, Y.; Gao, H.; Wang, Z.; Yang, Y.; Van Leeuwen, T.; Millar, N. S.; Liu, Z.

doi:10.1101/747147

bioRxiv · 10.1101/747147

Genome sequencing and neurotoxin diversity of a wandering spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (pond wolf spider)

Yu, N.·Li, J.·Liu, M.·Huang, L.·Bao, H.·Yang, Z.·Zhang, Y.·Gao, H.·Wang, Z.·Yang, Y.·Van Leeuwen, T.·Millar, N. S.·Liu, Z.

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Abstract

Spiders constitute an extensive and diverse branch of the phylum Arthropoda. Whereas the genomes of four web-weaver spider species and a single cave-living spider have been determined, similar studies have not been reported previously for a wandering spider. The pond wolf spider, Pardosa pseudoannulata, is a wandering hunter that immobilizes prey using venom rather than a web. It is also an important predator against a range of agriculturally important insect pests. The increasing interest in its wandering lifestyle and in the potential of spider venom as a tool for pest control have prompted a detailed study on this wandering spider species. We have generated a high-quality genome sequence of P. pseudoannulata and analysed genes associated with the production of silk and venom toxins. Sequencing reveals that P. pseudoannulata has a large genome of 4.26 Gb. The presence of only 16 spidroin genes and four types of silk glands is consistent with the moderate use of silk and the lack of a prey-catching web. A large number of genes encode neurotoxins and there is evidence that the majority are highly selective for invertebrates. Comparison between spider species reveals a correlation between spider neurotoxin selectivity for target organisms and spider prosoma size, suggesting a possible coevolution of these two features. The genome data provides valuable insights into the biology of P. pseudoannulata and its potential role as a natural enemy in pest control.

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Yu, N., Li, J., Liu, M., Huang, L., Bao, H., Yang, Z., Zhang, Y., Gao, H., Wang, Z., Yang, Y., Van Leeuwen, T., Millar, N. S., Liu, Z.. 2019-08-29. Genome sequencing and neurotoxin diversity of a wandering spider Pardosa pseudoannulata (pond wolf spider). https://doi.org/10.1101/747147

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