Deciphering the Molecular Diversity of an Ant Venom Peptidome through a Venomics Approach
peer-reviewed · Journal of Proteome Research · 2018
| Date | 2018-10-05 |
| Type | peer-reviewed |
| Venue | Journal of Proteome Research |
| Publisher | American Chemical Society (ACS) |
| Contribution | downstream-application |
| DOI | 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00452 |
| Citations (OpenAlex) | 38 |
| Venue 2-year citedness | 3.83 |
Abstract
The peptide toxins in the venoms of small invertebrates such as stinging ants have rarely been studied due to the limited amount of venom available per individual. We used a venomics strategy to identify the molecular diversity of the venom peptidome for the myrmicine ant Tetramorium bicarinatum. The methodology included (i) peptidomics, in which the venom peptides are sequenced through a de novo mass spectrometry approach or Edman degradation; (ii) transcriptomics, based on RT-PCR-cloning and DNA sequencing; and (iii) the data mining of the RNA-seq in the available transcriptome. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed about 2800 peptides in the venom. However, the de novo sequencing suggested that most of these peptides arose from processing or the artifactual fragmentations of full-length mature peptides. These peptides, called “myrmicitoxins”, are produced by a limited number of genes. Thirty-seven peptide precursors were identified and classified into three superfamilies. These precursors are related to pilosulin, secapin or are new ant venom prepro-peptides. The mature myrmicitoxins display sequence homologies with antimicrobial, cytolytic and neurotoxic peptides. The venomics strategy enabled several post-translational modifications in some peptides such as O-glycosylation to be identified. This study provides novel insights into the molecular diversity and evolution of ant venoms.
Methods and tools
- Tetramorium bicarinatum ant venom peptidome: Venomics of the ant Tetramorium bicarinatum in which venom peptides were sequenced by de novo MS (PEAKS) or Edman and combined with transcriptomics to define 37 myrmicitoxin precursors in three superfamilies.
Methods it uses
- PEAKS: Commercial DP-based de novo
Data deposited
- Venomics reveals an ant venom peptidome — as deposited · PXD010451
Cited by (3)
- Venomics survey of six myrmicine ants provides insights into the molecular and structural diversity of their peptide toxins (2022) crossref
- Venom Peptide Repertoire of the European Myrmicine Ant Manica rubida: Identification of Insecticidal Toxins (2020) crossref
- The Peptide Venom Composition of the Fierce Stinging Ant Tetraponera aethiops (Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae) (2019) both