Molecular Mechanism of the Two-Component Suicidal Weapon of Neocapritermes taracua Old Workers

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F61388963%3A_____%2F16%3A00459003" target="_blank" >RIV/61388963:_____/16:00459003 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/60460709:41320/16:72774

Result on the web

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msv273" target="_blank" >http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msv273</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msv273" target="_blank" >10.1093/molbev/msv273</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Molecular Mechanism of the Two-Component Suicidal Weapon of Neocapritermes taracua Old Workers

Original language description

In termites, as in many social insects, some individuals specialize in colony defense, developing diverse weaponry. As workers of the termite Neocapritermes taracua (Termitidae: Termitinae) age, their efficiency to perform general tasks decreases, while they accumulate defensive secretions and increase their readiness to fight. This defensive mechanism involves self-sacrifice through body rupture during which an enzyme, stored as blue crystals in dorsal pouches, converts precursors produced by the labial glands into highly toxic compounds. Here, we identify both components of this activated defense system and describe the molecular basis responsible for the toxicity of N. taracua worker autothysis. The blue crystals are formed almost exclusively by a specific protein named BP76. By matching N. taracua transcriptome databases with amino acid sequences, we identified BP76 to be a laccase. Following autothysis, the series of hydroquinone precursors produced by labial glands get mixed with BP76, resulting in the conversion of relatively harmless hydroquinones into toxic benzoquinone analogues. Neocapritermes taracua workers therefore rely on a two-component activated defense system, consisting of two separately stored secretions that can react only after suicidal body rupture, which produces a sticky and toxic cocktail harmful to opponents.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_x - Unclassified - Peer-reviewed scientific article (Jimp, Jsc and Jost)

CEP classification

CE - Biochemistry

OECD FORD branch

—

Project

<a href="/en/project/LO1302" target="_blank" >LO1302: InterBioMed</a><br>

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2016

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Molecular Biology and Evolution

ISSN

0737-4038

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

33

Issue of the periodical within the volume

3

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

809-819

UT code for WoS article

000371219500018

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-84964467111