Peptidomic investigation of Neoponera villosa venom by high-resolution mass spectrometry: seasonal and nesting habitat variations

Autor(es)

Cologna, Camila Takeno ^{[1, 2]} ; Rodrigues, Renata Santos ^[3] ; Santos, Jean ^[3] ; de Pauw, Edwin ^[2] ; Arantes, Eliane Candiani ^[1] ; Quinton, Loic ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Pharmaceut Sci Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Liege, Dept Chem, MolSys, Lab Mass Spectrometry, Liege - Belgium

^[3] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases; v. 24, p. -, 2018.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

Abstract Background: Advancements in proteomics, including the technological improvement in instrumentation, have turned mass spectrometry into an indispensable tool in the study of venoms and toxins. In addition, the advance of nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry allows, due to its high sensitivity, the study of venoms from species previously left aside, such as ants. Ant venoms are a complex mixture of compounds used for defense, predation or communication purposes. The venom from Neoponera ants, a genus restricted to Neotropical regions, is known to have cytolytic, hemolytic, antimicrobial and insecticidal activities. Moreover, venoms from several Neoponera species have been compared and differences in their toxicity related to nesting habitat variation were reported. Therefore, the present study aimed to perform a deep peptidomic analysis of Neoponera villosa venom and a comparison of seasonal and nesting habitat variations using high-resolution mass spectrometry. Methods: Specimens of N. villosa ants were captured in Panga Natural Reserve (Uberlândia, MG, Brazil) from arboreal and ground-dwelling nests during summer and winter time. The venom glands were dissected, pooled and disrupted by ultra-sonic waves. The venom collected from different habitats (arboreal and ground-dwelling) and different seasons (summer and winter) was injected into a nanoACQUITY ULPC hyphened to a Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer. The raw data were analyzed using PEAKS 7. Results: The results showed a molecular diversity of more than 500 peptides among these venoms, mostly in the mass range of 800–4000 Da. Mutations and post-translational modifications were described and differences among the venoms were observed. Part of the peptides matched with ponericins, a well-known antimicrobial peptide family. In addition, smaller fragments related to ponericins were also identified, suggesting that this class of antimicrobial peptide might undergo enzymatic cleavages. Conclusion: There are substantial differences among the venom of N. villosa ants collected in different seasons and from different nest habitats. The venom composition is affected by climate changes that influence prey availability and predator presence. Clearly, nano-LC-MS boosted the knowledge about ant venom, a rich source of unexplored and promising bioactive compounds. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/18432-0 - Bioprospecção de toxinas animais com interesse biotecnológico a partir de ferramentas ômicas
• Beneficiário: Eliane Candiani Arantes Braga
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 13/26200-6 - Plataforma venômica: proteoma, transcriptoma, clonagem e expressão de toxinas de interesse biotecnológico presentes na peçonha de Pachycondyla villosa
• Beneficiário: Camila Takeno Cologna
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 15/17466-8 - Plataforma venômica: proteoma da peçonha da formiga Pachycondyla villosa e análise integrada dos resultados obtidos através de ferramentas ômicas
• Beneficiário: Camila Takeno Cologna
• Linha de fomento: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Pós-Doutorado