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Wu C, Li L, Wang Y, Wei S, Zhu J. Morphological, functional, compositional and transcriptional constraints shape the distinct venom profiles of the assassin bug Sycanus croceovittatus. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 250:126162. [PMID: 37558034 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Predatory bugs employ a salivary venom apparatus to generate complex venoms for capturing and digesting prey. The venom apparatus consists of different glands for the production of distinct venom sets, but the underlying mechanisms behind this process remain poorly understood. Here we present a comprehensive analysis of the morphological, functional, compositional and transcriptional characteristics of venoms derived from posterior main gland (PMG), anterior main gland (AMG), and accessory gland (AG) of the assassin bug Sycanus croceovittatus. Structural observations revealed the intricate constructions of the venom apparatus, enabling the production and storage of three distinct venom sets in anatomically varied glands and allowing them to be modulated in a context-dependent manner upon utilization. There were remarkable differences in the biological activities exhibited by PMG, AMG, and AG venoms. Proteotranscriptomic analysis demonstrated that these venoms displayed compositional heterogeneity at both the quantity and variety levels of proteins. Transcriptional profiles of the identified venom proteins revealed gland-specific or biased expression patterns. These findings indicate that the divergence in venom profiles among different glands arises from morphological, functional, compositional and transcriptional constraints on the venom apparatus, reflecting remarkable morphogenesis and regulatory gene networks responsible for the compartmentalized production of venom proteins in different glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyan Wu
- Key Laboeratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Lu Li
- Key Laboeratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Yuqin Wang
- Key Laboeratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Shujun Wei
- Key Laboeratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China; Institute of Plant Protection, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaying Zhu
- Key Laboeratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control of Yunnan Province, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China; Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China.
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Zhang M, Dai Z, Chen X, Qin D, Zhu G, Zhu T, Chen G, Ding Y, Wu G, Gao X. Identification and functional analysis of serine protease inhibitor gene family of Eocanthecona furcellata (Wolff). Front Physiol 2023; 14:1248354. [PMID: 37795265 PMCID: PMC10545863 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1248354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The predatory natural enemy Eocanthecona furcellata plays a crucial role in agricultural ecosystems due to its effective pest control measures and defensive venom. Predator venom contains serine protease inhibitors (SPIs), which are the primary regulators of serine protease activity and play key roles in digestion, development, innate immunity, and other physiological regulatory processes. However, the regulation mechanism of SPIs in the salivary glands of predatory natural enemies is still unknown. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptome of E. furcellata salivary gland and identified 38 SPIs genes named EfSPI1∼EfSPI38. Through gene structure, multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree analysis, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) expression profiles of different developmental stages and different tissues were analyzed. RNAi technology was used to explore the gene function of EFSPI20. The results showed that these 38 EfSPIs genes contained 8 SPI domains, which were serpin, TIL, Kunitz, Kazal, Antistasin, Pacifastin, WAP and A2M. The expression profile results showed that the expression of different types of EfSPIs genes was different at different developmental stages and different tissues. Most of the EfSPIs genes were highly expressed in the egg stage. The EfSPI20, EfSPI21, EfSPI22, and EfSPI24 genes of the Pacifastin subfamily and the EfSPI35 gene of the A2M subfamily were highly expressed in the nymphal and adult stages, which was consistent with the RT-qPCR verification results. These five genes are positively correlated with each other and have a synergistic effect on E. furcellata, and they were highly expressed in salivary glands. After interfering with the expression of the EfSPI20 gene, the survival rate and predatory amount of male and female adults were significantly decreased. Taken together, we speculated some EfSPIs may inhibit trypsin, chymotrypsin, and elastase, and some EfSPIs may be involved in autoimmune responses. EfSPI20 was essential for the predation and digestion of E. furcellata, and the functions of other EfSPIs were discussed. Our findings provide valuable insights into the diversity of EfSPIs in E. furcellata and the potential functions of regulating their predation, digestion and innate immunity, which may be of great significance for developing new pest control strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhenlin Dai
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Deqiang Qin
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Guoyuan Zhu
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Tao Zhu
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Yunan Tobacco Company Chuxiong Prefecture Company, Chuxiong, China
| | - Yishu Ding
- Yunan Tobacco Company Chuxiong Prefecture Company, Chuxiong, China
| | - Guoxing Wu
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xi Gao
- College of Plant Protection, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Fischer ML, Fabian B, Pauchet Y, Wielsch N, Sachse S, Vilcinskas A, Vogel H. An Assassin's Secret: Multifunctional Cytotoxic Compounds in the Predation Venom of the Assassin Bug Psytalla horrida (Reduviidae, Hemiptera). Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040302. [PMID: 37104240 PMCID: PMC10144120 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040302] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Predatory assassin bugs produce venomous saliva that enables them to overwhelm, kill, and pre-digest large prey animals. Venom from the posterior main gland (PMG) of the African assassin bug Psytalla horrida has strong cytotoxic effects, but the responsible compounds are yet unknown. Using cation-exchange chromatography, we fractionated PMG extracts from P. horrida and screened the fractions for toxicity. Two venom fractions strongly affected insect cell viability, bacterial growth, erythrocyte integrity, and intracellular calcium levels in Drosophila melanogaster olfactory sensory neurons. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed that both fractions contained gelsolin, redulysins, S1 family peptidases, and proteins from the uncharacterized venom protein family 2. Synthetic peptides representing the putative lytic domain of redulysins had strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and/or Bacillus subtilis but only weak toxicity towards insect or mammalian cells, indicating a primary role in preventing the intake of microbial pathogens. In contrast, a recombinant venom protein family 2 protein significantly reduced insect cell viability but exhibited no antibacterial or hemolytic activity, suggesting that it plays a role in prey overwhelming and killing. The results of our study show that P. horrida secretes multiple cytotoxic compounds targeting different organisms to facilitate predation and antimicrobial defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maike Laura Fischer
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Benjamin Fabian
- Research Group Olfactory Coding, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Yannick Pauchet
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Natalie Wielsch
- Research Group Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Silke Sachse
- Research Group Olfactory Coding, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- Branch Bioresources of the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, 35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, 07745 Jena, Germany
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First In Silico Screening of Insect Molecules for Identification of Novel Anti-Parasitic Compounds. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15020119. [PMID: 35215232 PMCID: PMC8877563 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by blood flukes of the genus Schistosoma. In silico screenings of compounds for the identification of novel anti-parasitic drug candidates have received considerable attention in recent years, including the screening of natural compounds. For the first time, we investigated molecules from insects, a rather neglected source in drug discovery, in an in silico screening approach to find novel antischistosomal compounds. Based on the Dictionary of Natural Products (DNP), we created a library of 1327 insect compounds suitable for molecular docking. A structure-based virtual screening against the crystal structure of a known druggable target in Schistosoma mansoni, the thioredoxin glutathione reductase (SmTGR), was performed. The top ten compounds predominantly originated from beetles and were predicted to interact particularly with amino acids in the doorstop pocket of SmTGR. For one compound from a jewel beetle, buprestin H, we tested and confirmed antischistosomal activity against adult and juvenile parasites in vitro. At concentrations with anti-parasitic activity, we could also exclude any unspecific cytotoxic activity against human HepG2 cells. This study highlights the potential of insect molecules for the identification of novel antischistosomal compounds. Our library of insect-derived molecules could serve not only as basis for future in silico screenings against additional target proteins of schistosomes, but also of other parasites.
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Lüddecke T, Vilcinskas A. Heilen mit Tiergiften. CHEM UNSERER ZEIT 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ciuz.202100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tim Lüddecke
- Fraunhofer Institut für Molekularbiologie und Angewandte Ökologie IME Abteilung Bioressourcen Ohlebergsweg 12 35392 Gießen
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Rügen N, Jenkins TP, Wielsch N, Vogel H, Hempel BF, Süssmuth RD, Ainsworth S, Cabezas-Cruz A, Vilcinskas A, Tonk M. Hexapod Assassins' Potion: Venom Composition and Bioactivity from the Eurasian Assassin Bug Rhynocoris iracundus. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9070819. [PMID: 34356883 PMCID: PMC8301361 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9070819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Assassin bug venoms are potent and exert diverse biological functions, making them potential biomedical goldmines. Besides feeding functions on arthropods, assassin bugs also use their venom for defense purposes causing localized and systemic reactions in vertebrates. However, assassin bug venoms remain poorly characterized. We collected the venom from the assassin bug Rhynocoris iracundus and investigated its composition and bioactivity in vitro and in vivo. It caused lysis of murine neuroblastoma, hepatoma cells, and healthy murine myoblasts. We demonstrated, for the first time, that assassin bug venom induces neurolysis and suggest that it counteracts paralysis locally via the destruction of neural networks, contributing to tissue digestion. Furthermore, the venom caused paralysis and melanization of Galleria mellonella larvae and pupae, whilst also possessing specific antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, but not Listeria grayi and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A combinatorial proteo-transcriptomic approach was performed to identify potential toxins responsible for the observed effects. We identified neurotoxic Ptu1, an inhibitory cystin knot (ICK) toxin homologous to ω-conotoxins from cone snails, cytolytic redulysins homologous to trialysins from hematophagous kissing bugs, and pore-forming hemolysins. Additionally, chitinases and kininogens were found and may be responsible for insecticidal and cytolytic activities. We demonstrate the multifunctionality and complexity of assassin bug venom, which renders its molecular components interesting for potential biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolai Rügen
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.R.); (A.V.)
| | - Timothy P. Jenkins
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark;
| | - Natalie Wielsch
- Research Group Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knoell-Strasse 8, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Heiko Vogel
- Department of Entomology, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Hans-Knöll-Straße 8, 07745 Jena, Germany;
| | - Benjamin-Florian Hempel
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (B.-F.H.); (R.D.S.)
- BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roderich D. Süssmuth
- Department of Chemistry, Technische Universität Berlin, Strasse des 17. Juni 124, 10623 Berlin, Germany; (B.-F.H.); (R.D.S.)
| | - Stuart Ainsworth
- Centre for Snakebite Research and Interventions, Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK;
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, F-94700 Maisons-Alfort, France;
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Department of Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Ohlebergsweg 12, 35392 Giessen, Germany; (N.R.); (A.V.)
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Miray Tonk
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Senckenberganlage 25, 60325 Frankfurt, Germany
- Correspondence:
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