Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
Alkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons ag...
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/11/679 |
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| author | Kyle Sozanski Lívia Pires do Prado Andrew J. Mularo Victoria A. Sadowski Tappey H. Jones Rachelle M. M. Adams |
| author_facet | Kyle Sozanski Lívia Pires do Prado Andrew J. Mularo Victoria A. Sadowski Tappey H. Jones Rachelle M. M. Adams |
| author_sort | Kyle Sozanski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Alkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons against heterospecific species. However, research is often limited to pest species or species with parasitic lifestyles and thus fails to address the broader ecological function of ant venom alkaloids. Here we describe a new species of free-living <i>Megalomyrmex</i> ant: <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> sp. n. In addition, we identify its singular venom alkaloid (<i>trans</i>-2-butyl-5-heptylpyrrolidine) and elucidate the antibiotic and insecticidal functions of its venom. Our results show that <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> sp. n. venom is an effective antibiotic and insecticide. These results are comparable to venom alkaloids found in other ant species, such as <i>Solenopsis invicta.</i> This research provides great insight into venom alkaloid function, and it is the first study to explore these ideas in the <i>Megalomyrmex</i> system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:15:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2904a326326c4c938431b80471f6bd2e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:15:37Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-2904a326326c4c938431b80471f6bd2e2023-11-20T18:57:03ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512020-10-01121167910.3390/toxins12110679Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Kyle Sozanski0Lívia Pires do Prado1Andrew J. Mularo2Victoria A. Sadowski3Tappey H. Jones4Rachelle M. M. Adams5Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USACoordenação de Ciências da Terra e Ecologia, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 66077-830, PA, BrazilDepartment of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, Indiana, IN 47907, USADepartment of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Chemistry, Virginia Military Institute, Virgina, VA 24450, USADepartment of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology at The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USAAlkaloids are important metabolites found across a variety of organisms with diverse ecological functions. Of particular interest are alkaloids found in ants, organisms well known for dominating the ecosystems they dwell in. Within ants, alkaloids are found in venom and function as potent weapons against heterospecific species. However, research is often limited to pest species or species with parasitic lifestyles and thus fails to address the broader ecological function of ant venom alkaloids. Here we describe a new species of free-living <i>Megalomyrmex</i> ant: <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> sp. n. In addition, we identify its singular venom alkaloid (<i>trans</i>-2-butyl-5-heptylpyrrolidine) and elucidate the antibiotic and insecticidal functions of its venom. Our results show that <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> sp. n. venom is an effective antibiotic and insecticide. These results are comparable to venom alkaloids found in other ant species, such as <i>Solenopsis invicta.</i> This research provides great insight into venom alkaloid function, and it is the first study to explore these ideas in the <i>Megalomyrmex</i> system.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/11/679venomalkaloid<i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i>insecticideantibiotic |
| spellingShingle | Kyle Sozanski Lívia Pires do Prado Andrew J. Mularo Victoria A. Sadowski Tappey H. Jones Rachelle M. M. Adams Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Toxins venom alkaloid <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> insecticide antibiotic |
| title | Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full | Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_fullStr | Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_short | Venom Function of a New Species of <i>Megalomyrmex</i> Forel, 1885 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) |
| title_sort | venom function of a new species of i megalomyrmex i forel 1885 hymenoptera formicidae |
| topic | venom alkaloid <i>Megalomyrmex peetersi</i> insecticide antibiotic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/12/11/679 |
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