Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier Masson
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 1631-0691

hal-01083754
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01083754
DOI : 10.1016/j.crvi.2009.01.006

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : Remerciements :- Dr. Jacques Delabie- Andrea Yockey-Dejean- Geoff Brown- Jean-Pierre Andrieu
Background: Most ant venoms consist predominantly of small linear peptides, although some contain disulfide linked peptides as minor components. However, in striking contrast to other ant species, some Anochetus venoms are composed primarily of disulfide-rich peptides. In this study, we investigated the venom of the ant Anochetus emarginatus with the aim of exploring these novel disulfide-rich peptides.Methods: The venom peptidome was initially investigated using a combination of reversed-phase HPLC and mass spectrometry, then the amino acid sequences of the major peptides were determined using a combination of Edman degradation and de novo MS/MS sequencing. We focused on one of these peptides, U-1-PONTX-Ae1a (Ae1a), because of its novel sequence, which we predicted would form a novel 3D fold. Ae1a was chemically synthesized using Fmoc chemistry and its 3D structure was elucidated using NMR spectroscopy. The peptide was then tested for insecticidal activity and its effect on a range of human ion channels.Results: Seven peptides named poneritoxins (PONTXs) were isolated and sequenced. The three-dimensional structure of synthetic Ae1a revealed a novel, compact scaffold in which a C-terminal beta-hairpin is connected to the N-terminal region via two disulfide bonds. Synthetic Ae1a reversibly paralyzed blowflies and inhibited human L-type voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca(v)1).Conclusions: Poneritoxins from Anochetus emarginatus venom are a novel class of toxins that are structurally unique among animal venoms.General significance: This study demonstrates that Anochetus ant venoms are a rich source of novel ion channel modulating peptides, some of which might be useful leads for the development of biopesticides.
ISSN: 0304-4165

hal-01511987
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01511987
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01511987/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01511987/file/2016_Touchard_Biochimica_Biophysica_%7B4B3BE6A3-AE83-4C6E-B678-BBFB5CC84AF7%7D.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.07.027

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Association for the Advancement of Science
Résumé : International audience
Most eukaryotic organisms are arthropods. Yet, their diversity in rich terrestrial ecosystems is still unknown. Here we produce tangible estimates of the total species richness of arthropods in a tropical rainforest. Using a comprehensive range of structured protocols, we sampled the phylogenetic breadth of arthropod taxa from the soil to the forest canopy in the San Lorenzo forest, Panama. We collected 6144 arthropod species from 0.48 hectare and extrapolated total species richness to larger areas on the basis of competing models. The whole 6000-hectare forest reserve most likely sustains 25,000 arthropod species. Notably, just 1 hectare of rainforest yields >60% of the arthropod biodiversity held in the wider landscape. Models based on plant diversity fitted the accumulated species richness of both herbivore and nonherbivore taxa exceptionally well. This lends credence to global estimates of arthropod biodiversity developed from plant models.
ISSN: 0036-8075

hal-00817285
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00817285
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00817285/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00817285/file/1226727Revisedtext.pdf
DOI : 10.1126/science.1226727

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD The Austrian Society of Entomofaunistics (ÖGEF)
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 1994-4136

hal-01086782
https://hal-agroparistech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01086782