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The Peptide Venom Composition of the Fierce Stinging Ant Tetraponera aethiops (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae).

ABSTRACT: In the mutualisms involving certain pseudomyrmicine ants and different myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering colonies of specialized "plant-ant" species in hollow structures), the ant venom contributes to the host plant biotic defenses by inducing the rapid paralysis of defoliating insects and causing intense pain to browsing mammals. Using integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, we identified the venom peptidome of the plant-ant Tetraponera aethiops (Pseudomyrmecinae). The transcriptomic analysis of its venom glands revealed that 40% of the expressed contigs encoded only seven peptide precursors related to the ant venom peptides from the A-superfamily. Among the 12 peptide masses detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), nine mature peptide sequences were characterized and confirmed through proteomic analysis. These venom peptides, called pseudomyrmecitoxins (PSDTX), share amino acid sequence identities with myrmeciitoxins known for their dual offensive and defensive functions on both insects and mammals. Furthermore, we demonstrated through reduction/alkylation of the crude venom that four PSDTXs were homo- and heterodimeric. Thus, we provide the first insights into the defensive venom composition of the ant genus Tetraponera indicative of a streamlined peptidome.

SUBMITTER: Barasse V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6950161 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Peptide Venom Composition of the Fierce Stinging Ant <i>Tetraponera aethiops</i> (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae).

Barassé Valentine V Touchard Axel A Téné Nathan N Tindo Maurice M Kenne Martin M Klopp Christophe C Dejean Alain A Bonnafé Elsa E Treilhou Michel M

Toxins 20191214 12

In the mutualisms involving certain pseudomyrmicine ants and different myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering colonies of specialized "plant-ant" species in hollow structures), the ant venom contributes to the host plant biotic defenses by inducing the rapid paralysis of defoliating insects and causing intense pain to browsing mammals. Using integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approaches, we identified the venom peptidome of the plant-ant <i>Tetraponera aethiops</i> (Pseudomyrmecinae). The t ...[more]

PMID: 31847368

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Dataset Information

The Peptide Venom Composition of the Fierce Stinging Ant Tetraponera aethiops (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae).

Publications

The Peptide Venom Composition of the Fierce Stinging Ant <i>Tetraponera aethiops</i> (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae).

Similar Datasets

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