Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects
Date of Degree
2-2026
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Biochemistry
Advisor
Mande Holford
Committee Members
Carmen Melendez-Vasquez
Rein Ulijn
Weigang Qiu
Gist Croft
Subject Categories
Biochemistry | Bioinformatics | Cell Biology | Computational Biology | Developmental Biology | Genomics | Marine Biology | Molecular Biology
Abstract
Venomous mollusks, including cone snails and coleoid cephalopods, produce rich repertoires of bioactive peptides with profound effects on cellular physiology, yet there are few tractable experimental systems that exist to study their development, maintenance, and venom secretion. Although therapeutics such as the cone snail peptide Ziconotide demonstrate the biomedical potential of molluscan venoms, progress in understanding how venom glands form, function, and evolve has been hindered by the lack of reliable husbandry and the complete absence of in vitro cell models. Modern comparative genomics has revealed widespread convergent evolution across venomous lineages, but molluscan datasets remain underrepresented, limiting insights into the signaling pathways and developmental mechanisms that underlie venom systems. This study represents a first attempt to define the underpinnings of molluscan model systems by integrating transcriptomics, proteomics, imaging, and primary culture development across cone snail (Conus leopardus, Conus lividus) and octopus (Octopus bimaculoides) venom gland tissues. Multi-omics analyses identified putative venoms and growth factors that may regulate venom gland differentiation and function, providing essential molecular leads in developing molluscan venom model systems, as well as two new cellular markers that are specific to C. leopardus venom tissue. Systematic attempts to establish primary cultures revealed major biological barriers in cone snails, however, methods developed in this thesis are able to derive membrane-bound granules containing nucleic acids and cytoskeletal elements uncovers a previously unrecognized component of venom gland biology and may inform future culture strategies. Additionally, this dissertation presents successful primary cultures of O. bimaculoides posterior salivary gland, and optical lobe and optical lobe connective tissues. These findings indicate cephalopods are promising candidates for establishing the first marine molluscan venom gland cell models. Overall, this work sets the foundation for generating tractable molluscan model systems by identifying molecular regulators, generation of cellular markers to improve visualization of venom tissues and uncovering practical constraints on primary culture. Establishing such systems will enable controlled, mechanistic studies of venom biosynthesis, secretion, and evolution, unlocking the full potential of molluscan venoms as tools for biology and biomedical discovery.
Recommended Citation
Parziale, James V., "Characterization and Advancement of Molluscan Venom Gland Cell Model Systems" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/6576
Supplemental Table 2.1
Supplemental_Table_2.2_combined_BLAST_analysis_venom_CLIV_all.xlsx (11900 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.2
Supplemental_Table_2.3_combined_BLAST_analysis_venom_CLIV_significant.xlsx (1670 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.3
Supplemental_Table_2.4_combined_BLAST_analysis_venom_CLEO_all.xlsx (8327 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.4
Supplemental_Table_2.5_combined_BLAST_analysis_venom_CLEO_significant.xlsx (3889 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.5
Supplemental_Table_2.6_combined_KALLISTO_analysis_venom_CLIV_significant_shareable.xlsx (10 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.6
Supplemental_Table_2.7_combined_KALLISTO_analysis_venom_CLEO_significant_shareable.xlsx (13 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.7
Supplemental_Table_2.8_Ob_venom_FINAL.xlsx (17 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.8
Supplemental_Table_2.9_Ob_venom_FINAL_wKallisto_shareable.xlsx (18 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.9
Supplemental_Table_2.10a_CLIV_db.proteins.xlsx (483 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.10a
Supplemental_Table_2.10b_CLEO_db.proteins.xlsx (587 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.10b
Supplemental_Table_2.11_combined_KALLISTO_analysis_growthfacrtors_CLIV_all_shareable.xlsx (18 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.11
Supplemental_Table_2.12_OB_db.proteins.xlsx (2487 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.12
Supplemental_Table_2.13_growthfactor_id_FINAL.xlsx (26 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.13
Supplemental_Table_2.14_combined_BLAST_analysis_growthfactors_CLIV_all.xlsx (9409 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.14
Supplemental_Table_2.15_combined_BLAST_analysis_growthfactors_CLIV_significant.xlsx (172 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.15
Supplemental_Table_2.16_combined_BLAST_analysis_growthfactors_CLEO_all.xlsx (6659 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.16
Supplemental_Table_2.17_combined_BLAST_analysis_growthfactors_CLEO_significant.xlsx (1213 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.17
Supplemental_Table_2.18_combined_KALLISTO_analysis_growthfactors_CLEO_all_shareable.xlsx (16 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.18
Supplemental_Table_2.19_combined_KALLISTO_analysis_growthfactors_CLEO_significant_shareable.xlsx (10 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.19
Supplemental_Table_2.20_Ob_growthfactor_FINAL.xlsx (14 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.20
Supplemental_Table_2.21_Ob_growthfactor_FINAL_wKallsito_shareable.xlsx (15 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.21
Supplemental_Tables_2.22_CLIVsig_deeploc2_results_20251117-145639_Vlookup.csv (378 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.22
Supplemental_Tables_2.23_CLIVall_deeplog2_results_20251117-140209_Vlookup.csv (62103 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.23
Supplemental_Tables_2.24_CLEOall_deeploc2_results_20251116-173148_Vlookup.csv (37824 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.24
Supplemental_Tables_2.25_CLEOsig_deeploc2_results_20251117-144540_Vlookup.csv (1678 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.25
Supplemental_Tables_2.26_Ob1select_deeploc2_results_20251123-172058.csv (31 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.26
Supplemental_Tables_2.27_Ob2select_deeploc2_results_20251123-172121.csv (5 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.27
Supplemental_Tables_2.28_Ob3select_deeploc2_results_20251123-172148.csv (8 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.28
Supplemental_Table_2.29_CLEO_all_sleuthsig_goanalysis.xlsx (8840 kB)
Supplemental Table 2.29
Figure2.5A_Leopardus_hfps.mp4 (6781 kB)
Figure 2.5A Video
Figure2.5B_Leopardus_axial.mp4 (1289 kB)
Figure 2.5B Video
Figure2.5C_Leopardus_coronal.mp4 (1701 kB)
Figure 2.5C Video
Figure2.5D_Leopardus_sagittal.mp4 (1382 kB)
Figure 2.5D Video
Figure2.6A_Lividus_Full_Body_hfps.mp4 (2083 kB)
Figure 2.6A Video
Figure2.6B_Lividus_Axial_hfps.mp4 (443 kB)
Figure 2.6B Video
Lividus2.6C_Coronal_hfps.mp4 (469 kB)
Figure 2.6C Video
Figure2.6D_Lividus_Sagittal_hfps.mp4 (465 kB)
Figure 2.6D Video
Supplemental_Table_3.1_Dissociation Spreadsheet.xlsx (20 kB)
Supplemental Table 3.1
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