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A peptide toxin in ant venom mimics vertebrate EGF-like hormones to cause long-lasting hypersensitivity in mammals.
Eagles, David A; Saez, Natalie J; Krishnarjuna, Bankala; Bradford, Julia J; Chin, Yanni K-Y; Starobova, Hana; Mueller, Alexander; Reichelt, Melissa E; Undheim, Eivind A B; Norton, Raymond S; Thomas, Walter G; Vetter, Irina; King, Glenn F; Robinson, Samuel D.
Affiliation
  • Eagles DA; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Saez NJ; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Krishnarjuna B; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Bradford JJ; Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
  • Chin YK; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Starobova H; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Mueller A; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Reichelt ME; Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Undheim EAB; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
  • Norton RS; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway.
  • Thomas WG; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway.
  • Vetter I; Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia.
  • King GF; Australian Research Council Centre for Fragment-Based Design, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
  • Robinson SD; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ; 119(7)2022 02 15.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35131940
ABSTRACT
Venoms are excellent model systems for studying evolutionary processes associated with predator-prey interactions. Here, we present the discovery of a peptide toxin, MIITX2-Mg1a, which is a major component of the venom of the Australian giant red bull ant Myrmecia gulosa and has evolved to mimic, both structurally and functionally, vertebrate epidermal growth factor (EGF) peptide hormones. We show that Mg1a is a potent agonist of the mammalian EGF receptor ErbB1, and that intraplantar injection in mice causes long-lasting hypersensitivity of the injected paw. These data reveal a previously undescribed venom mode of action, highlight a role for ErbB receptors in mammalian pain signaling, and provide an example of molecular mimicry driven by defensive selection pressure.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ants / Toxins, Biological / Drug Hypersensitivity / Epidermal Growth Factor / Ant Venoms Type of study: Prognostic_studies Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Year: 2022 Type: Article Affiliation country: Australia
Fulltext
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PubMed Links
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Ants / Toxins, Biological / Drug Hypersensitivity / Epidermal Growth Factor / Ant Venoms Type of study: Prognostic_studies Limits: Animals Language: En Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Year: 2022 Type: Article Affiliation country: Australia