Proteomic-components provide insights into the defensive secretion in termite workers of the soldierless genus Ruptitermes

Autor(es)

Costa-Leonardo, Ana Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; da Silva, Iago Bueno ^[1] ; Poiani, Silvana Beani ^[2] ; Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto, Jose Roberto ^[2] ; Esteves, Franciele Grego ^[2] ; Bueno da Silva, Luiza Helena ^[1] ; Palma, Mario Sergio ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Biociencias, Dept Biol, Lab Cupins, UNESP, Campus Rio Claro, Ave 24A, 1515 Bela Vista, BR-13506900 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Paulista, Ctr Study Social Insects, Inst Biosci Rio Claro, Dept Biol, UNESP, Rio Claro, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS; v. 213, FEB 20 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Termite soldiers constitute the defensive frontline of the colonies, despite workers also perform such tasks, especially within the Neotropical Apicotermitinae, in which all species are soldierless. Workers of the genus Ruptitermes display an extreme form of defense, characterized by body rupture and release of a sticky secretion. Previous observations suggested that such behavior may be advantageous against enemies, but the chemical composition of this secretion has been neglected. Here we firstly provide the proteomic profile of the defensive secretion of Ruptitermes reconditus and Ruptitermes pitan workers. Additionally, the mechanisms of action of this behavior was evaluated through different bioassays. A total of 446 proteins were identified in R. reconditus and 391 proteins in R. pitan, which were classified into: toxins, defensins and proteolytic enzymes; sticky components/ alarm communication; proteins related to detoxification processes; proteins involved in folding/conformation and post-translational modifications; housekeeping proteins; and uncharacterized/hypothetical proteins. According to the bioassays, the self-sacrifice is triggered by a physical stimulus, and the defensive secretion may cause immobility and death of the opponents. Assuming that termites are abundant in the tropics and therefore exposed to predators, suicidal behaviors seem to be advantageous, since the loss of an individual benefit the whole colony. Significance: Although recent studies have reported the biochemical composition of different weapons in soldiered species of termites, such efforts had not been applied to sordierless taxa up until now. Thus, this is the first report of the defensive mechanisms in soldierless termite species based on proteomic analysis. The diversity of compounds, which included toxin-like and mucin-like proteins, reflect the mechanisms of action of the defensive secretion released by termite workers, which may cause immobility and death of the opponents. Our findings may contribute to the knowledge regarding the development of defensive strategies in termites, especially in groups which lost the soldier caste during the evolution. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 16/16212-5 - Proteopeptídeos naturais da fauna, flora e microbiota brasileira como potenciais modelos para o desenvolvimento racional de novos fármacos de uso terapêutico: isolamento, elucidação estrutural, síntese química e ensaios de atividade funcional
• Beneficiário: Mario Sergio Palma
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Programa BIOTA - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 17/10373-0 - Perfilagem peptidômica e caracterização estrutural-funcional das vesículas lipídicas presentes na teia da aranha Nephila clavipes
• Beneficiário: Franciele Grego Esteves
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/26451-9 - Bioprospecção e Análise Estrutural das Proteínas da Seda de Artrópodes por uma Abordagem Proteômica Utilizando um Sistema nanoLC-ESI-CID/ETD
• Beneficiário: José Roberto Aparecido dos Santos-Pinto
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado