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Dresler J, Herzig V, Vilcinskas A, Lüddecke T. Enlightening the toxinological dark matter of spider venom enzymes. NPJ BIODIVERSITY 2024; 3:25. [PMID: 39271930 PMCID: PMC11399385 DOI: 10.1038/s44185-024-00058-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Spiders produce highly adapted venoms featuring a complex mixture of biomolecules used mainly for hunting and defense. The most prominent components are peptidic neurotoxins, a major focus of research and drug development, whereas venom enzymes have been largely neglected. Nevertheless, investigation of venom enzymes not only reveals insights into their biological functions, but also provides templates for future industrial applications. Here we compared spider venom enzymes validated at protein level contained in the VenomZone database and from all publicly available proteo-transcriptomic spider venom datasets. We assigned reported enzymes to cellular processes and known venom functions, including toxicity, prey pre-digestion, venom preservation, venom component activation, and spreading factors. Our study unveiled extensive discrepancy between public databases and publications with regard to enzyme coverage, which impedes the development of novel spider venom enzyme-based applications. Uncovering the previously unrecognized abundance and diversity of venom enzymes will open new avenues for spider venom biodiscovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Dresler
- Animal Venomics Lab, Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Gießen, Germany.
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt a. M., Germany.
| | - Volker Herzig
- Centre for Bioinnovation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, QLD, Australia
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Animal Venomics Lab, Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Gießen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt a. M., Germany
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Gießen, Germany
| | - Tim Lüddecke
- Animal Venomics Lab, Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Gießen, Germany.
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Frankfurt a. M., Germany.
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Yu K, Chen J, Bai X, Xiong S, Ye X, Yang Y, Yao H, Wang F, Fang Q, Song Q, Ye G. Multi-Omic Identification of Venom Proteins Collected from Artificial Hosts of a Parasitoid Wasp. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:377. [PMID: 37368678 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15060377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Habrobracon hebetor is a parasitoid wasp capable of infesting many lepidopteran larvae. It uses venom proteins to immobilize host larvae and prevent host larval development, thus playing an important role in the biocontrol of lepidopteran pests. To identify and characterize its venom proteins, we developed a novel venom collection method using an artificial host (ACV), i.e., encapsulated amino acid solution in paraffin membrane, allowing parasitoid wasps to inject venom. We performed protein full mass spectrometry analysis of putative venom proteins collected from ACV and venom reservoirs (VRs) (control). To verify the accuracy of proteomic data, we also collected venom glands (VGs), Dufour's glands (DGs) and ovaries (OVs), and performed transcriptome analysis. In this paper, we identified 204 proteins in ACV via proteomic analysis; compared ACV putative venom proteins with those identified in VG, VR, and DG via proteome and transcriptome approaches; and verified a set of them using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Finally, 201 ACV proteins were identified as potential venom proteins. In addition, we screened 152 and 148 putative venom proteins identified in the VG transcriptome and the VR proteome against those in ACV, and found only 26 and 25 putative venom proteins, respectively, were overlapped with those in ACV. Altogether, our data suggest proteome analysis of ACV in combination with proteome-transcriptome analysis of other organs/tissues will provide the most comprehensive identification of true venom proteins in parasitoid wasps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaili Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xue Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shijiao Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xinhai Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongwei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Fang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qi Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qisheng Song
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Gongyin Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding, Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Key Laboratory of Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects of Zhejiang Province, Institute of Insect Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Inwood SN, Harrop TWR, Dearden PK. The venom composition and parthenogenesis mechanism of the parasitoid wasp Microctonus hyperodae, a declining biocontrol agent. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 153:103897. [PMID: 36584929 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2022.103897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
A biocontrol system in New Zealand using the endoparasitoid Microctonus hyperodae is failing, despite once being one of the most successful examples of classical biocontrol worldwide. Though it is of significant economic importance as a control agent, little is known about the genetics of M. hyperodae. In this study, RNA-seq was used to characterise two key traits of M. hyperodae in this system, the venom, critical for the initial success of biocontrol, and the asexual reproduction mode, which influenced biocontrol decline. Expanded characterisation of M. hyperodae venom revealed candidates involved in manipulating the host environment to source nutrition for the parasitoid egg, preventing a host immune response against the egg, as well as two components that may stimulate the host's innate immune system. Notably lacking from the venom-specific expression list was calreticulin, as it also had high expression in the ovaries. In-situ hybridisation revealed this ovarian expression was localised to the follicle cells, which may result in the deposition of calreticulin into the egg exochorion. Investigating the asexual reproduction of M. hyperodae revealed core meiosis-specific genes had conserved expression patterns with the highest expression in the ovaries, suggesting M. hyperodae parthenogenesis involves meiosis and that the potential for sexual reproduction may have been retained. Upregulation of genes involved in endoreduplication provides a potential mechanism for the restoration of diploidy in eggs after meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Inwood
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, Genomics Aotearoa, and the Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand
| | - Thomas W R Harrop
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, Genomics Aotearoa, and the Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand; Melbourne Bioinformatics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Peter K Dearden
- Bioprotection Aotearoa, Genomics Aotearoa, and the Biochemistry Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, Aotearoa, New Zealand.
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The Enzymatic Core of Scorpion Venoms. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14040248. [PMID: 35448857 PMCID: PMC9030722 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14040248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Enzymes are an integral part of animal venoms. Unlike snakes, in which enzymes play a primary role in envenomation, in scorpions, their function appears to be ancillary in most species. Due to this, studies on the diversity of scorpion venom components have focused primarily on the peptides responsible for envenomation (toxins) and a few others (e.g., antimicrobials), while enzymes have been overlooked. In this work, a comprehensive study on enzyme diversity in scorpion venoms was performed by transcriptomic and proteomic techniques. Enzymes of 63 different EC types were found, belonging to 330 orthogroups. Of them, 24 ECs conform the scorpion venom enzymatic core, since they were determined to be present in all the studied scorpion species. Transferases and lyases are reported for the first time. Novel enzymes, which can play different roles in the venom, including direct toxicity, as venom spreading factors, activators of venom components, venom preservatives, or in prey pre-digestion, were described and annotated. The expression profile for transcripts coding for venom enzymes was analyzed, and shown to be similar among the studied species, while being significantly different from their expression pattern outside the telson.
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Pinto CPG, Walker AA, Robinson SD, Chin YKY, King GF, Rossi GD. Venom composition of the endoparasitoid wasp Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and functional characterization of a major venom peptide. Toxicon 2021; 202:1-12. [PMID: 34547307 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Endoparasitoid wasps use complex biochemical arsenals to suppress the normal humoral and cellular immune responses of their hosts in order to transform them into a suitable environment for development of their eggs and larvae. Venom injected during oviposition is a key component of this arsenal, but the functions of individual venom toxins are still poorly understood. Furthermore, there has been little investigation of the potential biotechnological use of these venom toxins, for example for control of agricultural pests. The endoparasitoid Cotesia flavipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent reared in biofactories and released extensively in Brazil to control the sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The objectives of this work were to reveal venom components produced by C. flavipes and explore the function of a major venom peptide, Cf4. Using a combined proteomic/transcriptomic approach, we identified 38 putative venom toxins including both linear and disulfide-rich peptides, hydrolases, protease inhibitors, apolipophorins, lipid-binding proteins, and proteins of the odorant binding families. Because of its high abundance in the venom, we selected Cf4, a 33-residue peptide with three disulfide bonds, for synthesis and further characterization. We found that synthetic Cf4 reduced the capacity of D. saccharalis hemocytes to encapsulate foreign bodies without any effect on phenoloxidase activity, consistent with a role in disruption of the cellular host immune response. Feeding leaves coated with Cf4 to neonate D. saccharalis resulted in increased mortality and significantly reduced feeding compared to caterpillars fed untreated leaves, indicating that Cf4 is a potential candidate for insect pest control through ingestion. This study adds to our knowledge of endoparasitoid wasp venoms composition, host regulation mechanisms and their biotechnological potential for pest management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciro P G Pinto
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Andrew A Walker
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Samuel D Robinson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yanni K-Y Chin
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Glenn F King
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Guilherme D Rossi
- School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil.
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Cerenius L, Söderhäll K. Immune properties of invertebrate phenoloxidases. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 122:104098. [PMID: 33857469 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2021.104098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Melanin production from different types of phenoloxidases (POs) confers immunity from a variety of pathogens ranging from viruses and microorganisms to parasites. The arthropod proPO expresses a variety of activities including cytokine, opsonin and microbiocidal activities independent of and even without melanin production. Proteolytic processing of proPO and its activating enzyme gives rise to several peptide fragments with a variety of separate activities in a process reminiscent of vertebrate complement system activation although proPO bears no sequence similarity to vertebrate complement factors. Pathogens influence proPO activation and thereby what types of immune effects that will be produced. An increasing number of specialised pathogens - from parasites to viruses - have been identified who can synthesise compounds specifically aimed at the proPO-system. In invertebrates outside the arthropods phylogenetically unrelated POs are participating in melanization reactions obviously aimed at intruders and/or aberrant tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lage Cerenius
- Department of Organismal Biology,Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Kenneth Söderhäll
- Department of Organismal Biology,Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18A, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
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Venom serine proteinase homolog of the ectoparasitoid Scleroderma guani impairs host phenoloxidase cascade. Toxicon 2020; 183:29-35. [PMID: 32445842 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The ant-like bethylid ectoparasitoid Scleroderma guani (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) envenomates host to suppress immune response. Yet, the roles of its venom in inhibiting melanization of the host hemolymph have not been fully characterized. Here, we demonstrated that S. guani envenomation induced strong inhibition of melanization of the hemolymph from Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), permitting the successful development of parasitoid offspring. To reveal venom component associated with such function, a serine proteinase homolog (SguaSPH) rich in the venom of S. guani was characterized. It was found that one of the catalytic triad residues for serine proteinase is absent in the amino acid sequence of SguaSPH. This venom component was abundantly expressed in venom apparatus and adult stages. By enzymatic assays, SguaSPH displayed low trypsin and no chymotrypsin activity, and was able to inhibit phenoloxidase activity in the hemolymph of Ostrinia furnacalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). The findings suggest that SguaSPH is essential for interfering with hemolymph melanization of S. guani envenomated host via phenoloxidase cascade disruption.
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LE TN, Da Silva D, Colas C, Darrouzet E, Baril P, Leseurre L, Maunit B. Asian hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax venom: Evaluation and identification of the bioactive compound responsible for human keratinocyte protection against oxidative stress. Toxicon 2020; 176:1-9. [PMID: 31935389 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to explore the potential antioxidant molecules of the Asian hornet venom (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) responsible for radical scavenging activity and human keratinocyte protection against oxidative stress. We developed a first technical platform that combined a DPPH radical scavenging chemical assay and cytotoxicity and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production in HaCaT keratinocyte cells exposed to UVB to evaluate the antioxidant property of V. velutina venom. We further employed Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) combined with the DPPH assay as a targeted separation approach to isolate the antioxidant compounds responsible for the free radical scavenging property of V. velutina venom. In parallel, the latter was fractionated by a HPLC-DAD non-targeted separation approach. From this experiment, nine fractions were generated which were again evaluated separately for their antioxidant properties using DPPH assays. Results showed that only one fraction exhibited significant antioxidant activity in which serotonin was identified as the major compound by a UHPLC-ESI-QTOF HRMS/MS approach. We finally demonstrated, using purified serotonin molecule that this bioactive structure is mostly responsible for the free radical scavenging property of the crude venom as evidenced by DPPH and ROS assays in HaCaT cells exposed to UVB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao Nhi LE
- University of Orléans, CNRS, ICOA, UMR 7311, F-45067, Orléans, France.
| | - David Da Silva
- University of Orléans, CNRS, ICOA, UMR 7311, F-45067, Orléans, France.
| | - Cyril Colas
- University of Orléans, CNRS, ICOA, UMR 7311, F-45067, Orléans, France; CNRS, CBM, UPR 4301, University of Orléans, F-45071, Orléans, France.
| | - Eric Darrouzet
- IRBI, UMR CNRS 7261, University of Tours, Faculty of Sciences, Parc de Grandmont, 37200, Tours, France.
| | - Patrick Baril
- CNRS, CBM, UPR 4301, University of Orléans, F-45071, Orléans, France.
| | - Lucie Leseurre
- CHIMEX (groupe L'Oréal), 16 Rue Maurice Berteaux, 95500, Le Thillay, France.
| | - Benoît Maunit
- University of Orléans, CNRS, ICOA, UMR 7311, F-45067, Orléans, France; University of Clermont Auvergne, INSERM, IMost, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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