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

Kód výsledku v 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>

Nalezeny alternativní kódy

RIV/60460709:41320/16:72774

Výsledek na webu

<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>

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

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

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

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.

Název v anglickém jazyce

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

Popis výsledku anglicky

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.

Druh

J_x - Nezařazeno - Článek v odborném periodiku (Jimp, Jsc a Jost)

CEP obor

CE - Biochemie

OECD FORD obor

—

Projekt

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

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2016

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

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

Název periodika

Molecular Biology and Evolution

ISSN

0737-4038

e-ISSN

—

Svazek periodika

33

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

3

Stát vydavatele periodika

US - Spojené státy americké

Počet stran výsledku

11

Strana od-do

809-819

Kód UT WoS článku

000371219500018

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

2-s2.0-84964467111