Data from: Genome of the pitcher plant Cephalotus reveals genetic changes associated with carnivory

Carnivorous plants exploit animals as a nutritional source and have
inspired long-standing questions about the origin and evolution of
carnivory-related traits. To investigate the molecular bases of carnivory,
we sequenced the genome of the heterophyllous pitcher plant Cephalotus
follicularis, in which we succeeded in regulating the developmental switch
between carnivorous and non-carnivorous leaves. Transcriptome comparison
of the two leaf types and gene repertoire analysis identified genetic
changes associated with prey attraction, capture, digestion and nutrient
absorption. Analysis of digestive fluid proteins from C. follicularis and
three other carnivorous plants with independent carnivorous origins
revealed repeated co-options of stress-responsive protein lineages coupled
with convergent amino acid substitutions to acquire digestive physiology.
These results imply constraints on the available routes to evolve plant
carnivory.