Characterization of the venom peptide repertoire of the red ant Manica rubida (Myrmicinae). MaRubida Venom

Although ants are amongst the most abundant venomous terrestrial organisms, only a few studies have investigated the entire repertoire of venom peptides within a single ant venom, and identified the toxins involved in the insecticidal effect. In the present study, the venom peptidome of the red ant, Manica rubida, was characterized using an integrated transcriptomic and proteomic approach. Thirteen myrmicitoxins were identified with sequence homology to a number of other ant venom peptides. One myrmecitoxin was identified as an EGF-like toxin that is likely modified by O-fucosylation of a threonine residue. Six myrmicitoxins (i.e. U3-, U10-, U13-, U20-MYRTX-Mri1a, U10-MYRTX-Mri1b, and U10-MYRTX-Mri1c) were identified in HPLC venom fractions that displayed insecticidal activity.