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

peer-reviewed · Toxins · 2019

peer-reviewed · Toxins · 2019. Valentine Barassé et al. In the mutualisms involving certain pseudomyrmicine ants and different myrmecophytes (i.e., plants sheltering…
Date 2019-12-14
Type peer-reviewed
Venue Toxins
Publisher MDPI AG
Contribution downstream-application
DOI 10.3390/toxins11120732
Citations (OpenAlex) 22
Venue 2-year citedness 4.56

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.

Authors

  1. Valentine Barassé · Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives, Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion, Université de Toulouse
  2. Axel Touchard · AgroParisTech, Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Université de Toulouse
  3. Nathan Téné · Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives, Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion, Université de Toulouse
  4. Maurice Tindo · University of Douala
  5. Martin Kenne · University of Douala
  6. Christophe Klopp · Genotoul coordination, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Mathématiques et Informatique Appliquées Toulouse
  7. Alain Dejean · AgroParisTech, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane, Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, Laboratoire Écologie Fonctionnelle et Environnement, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Université de Toulouse
  8. Elsa Bonnafé · Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives, Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion, Université de Toulouse
  9. Michel Treilhou · Biochimie et Toxicologie des Substances Bioactives, Institut National Universitaire Jean-François Champollion, Université de Toulouse

Methods and tools

  • Tetraponera aethiops ant venom peptidome: Venom peptidome of the plant-ant Tetraponera aethiops from transcriptomics plus PEAKS de novo sequencing (ALC above 60%), characterising nine mature pseudomyrmecitoxin sequences, some dimeric.

Methods it uses

  • PEAKS: Commercial DP-based de novo

Data deposited

  • Tetraponera aethiops venom peptidome — as deposited · PXD016337

Cites (1)

Cited by (2)

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