Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Aardema ML
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4980202 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Aardema Matthew L ML Andolfatto Peter P
Evolution; international journal of organic evolution 20160727 8
Many distantly related insect species are specialized feeders of cardenolide-containing host plants such as milkweed (Asclepias spp.). Previous studies have revealed frequent, parallel substitution of a functionally important amino acid substitution (N122H) in the alpha subunit of Na(+) ,K(+) -ATPase in a number of these species. This substitution facilitates the ability of these insects to feed on their toxic hosts and sequester cardenolides for their own use in defense. Among milkweed butterfl ...[more]