Deciphering the Molecular Diversity of an Ant Venom Peptidome through a Venomics Approach

Journal of Proteome Research
Axel TouchardElsa Bonnafé

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 modif...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 22, 2020·Mass Spectrometry Reviews·Albert T LebedevTatiana Y Samgina
May 11, 2021·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Timo JensenSamuel D Robinson
Jun 3, 2021·Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology·Troy WanandyMichael D Wiese
Jun 11, 2021·The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·Karthi DuraisamyBilly K C Chow
Dec 13, 2018·Journal of Proteome Research·Mingqiang RongZhonghua Liu

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