Venomous globiferous pedicellariae of eastern Australian Tripneustes sea urchins contain a rich diversity of cathepsin, lectin, and phospholipase A2 family proteins

Richard J. Harris; Sina Ehlert-Flaskämper; Maria Byrne; Cherie A. Motti; Scott F. Cummins

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109062

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Venomous globiferous pedicellariae of eastern Australian Tripneustes sea urchins contain a rich diversity of cathepsin, lectin, and phospholipase A2 family proteins

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Venomous globiferous pedicellariae of eastern Australian Tripneustes sea urchins contain a rich diversity of cathepsin, lectin, and phospholipase A2 family proteins

Richard J. Harris, Sina Ehlert-Flaskämper, Maria Byrne, Cherie A. Motti and Scott F. Cummins

Toxicon, Vol.276, pp.1-12

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109062

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Abstract

Echinoidea

Pedicellariae

Toxin

Transcriptome

Urchin

Venom

Sea urchins (Echinoidea) are a class of echinoderms that are known to harbour diverse defensive traits, including long spines and pincer-like appendages called pedicellariae. Pedicellariae of the venomous globiferous type are particularly well developed in the Family Toxopneustidae. However, there is a significant lack of data on the identity of pedicellarial toxins, which is needed to characterise their function, generate insights into venom evolution and explore bioprospecting potential. In this study, we performed a transcriptomic assessment of the pedicellariae from the two toxopneustid Tripneustes species that occur in eastern Australia, both of which are suspected to possess a pedicellarial venom gland system. The pedicellariae were found to express a rich diversity of gene transcripts encoding proteins that match to known putative venom-associated proteins, particularly those of cathepsin, lectin, and phospholipase A2 families. This study provides a foundational basis to advance discovery of sea urchin venom toxin candidates, filling a void in a field of research that has been neglected.

Details

Title: Venomous globiferous pedicellariae of eastern Australian Tripneustes sea urchins contain a rich diversity of cathepsin, lectin, and phospholipase A2 family proteins
Authors: Richard J. Harris (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
Sina Ehlert-Flaskämper - James Cook University
Maria Byrne - The University of Sydney
Cherie A. Motti - Australian Institute of Marine Science
Scott F. Cummins - University of the Sunshine Coast
Publication details: Toxicon, Vol.276, pp.1-12
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2026.109062
ISSN: 1879-3150
Data Availability: Raw transcriptome data was uploaded to and is available from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) SRA database under the BioProject number PRJNA1356305. All other raw data is available in supplementary file 1-6 and Fig. S1.
Grants: System-level characterisation of the siphonophore, Indo-Pacific man o' war, DP220103933, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Grant note: Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) appropriation funding (003746).
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991216251002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Pharmacology & Pharmacy; Toxicology