Peptide toxins that target vertebrate voltage-gated sodium channels underly the painful stings of harvester ants
Journal
Journal of Biological Chemistry
ISSN
0021-9258
Date Issued
2024-01
Author(s)
Samuel D. Robinson
Jennifer R. Deuis
Pancong Niu
Axel Touchard
Alexander Mueller
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red
Vanessa Schendel
Nina Brinkwirth
Glenn F. King
Irina Vetter
Justin O. Schmidt
Abstract
Harvester ants (genus Pogonomyrmex) are renowned for their stings which cause intense, long-lasting pain, and other neurotoxic symptoms in vertebrates. Here, we show that harvester ant venoms are relatively simple and composed largely of peptide toxins. One class of peptides is primarily responsible for the long-lasting local pain of envenomation via activation of peripheral sensory neurons.
These hydrophobic, cysteine-free peptides potently modulate mammalian voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels, reducing the voltage threshold for activation and inhibiting channel inactivation. These toxins appear to have evolved specifically to deter vertebrates.
These hydrophobic, cysteine-free peptides potently modulate mammalian voltage-gated sodium (NaV) channels, reducing the voltage threshold for activation and inhibiting channel inactivation. These toxins appear to have evolved specifically to deter vertebrates.