Venomous Cargo: Diverse Toxin-Related Proteins Are Associated with Extracellular Vesicles in Parasitoid Wasp Venom.

ABSTRACT: Unusual membrane-bound particles are present in the venom of the parasitoid wasps that parasitize Drosophila melanogaster. These venom particles harbor about 400 proteins and suppress the encapsulation of a wasp egg. Whereas the proteins in the particles of Leptopilina boulardi venom modify host hemocyte properties, those in L. heterotoma kill host hemocytes. The mechanisms underlying this differential effect are not well understood. The proteome of the L. heterotoma venom particles has been described before, but that of L. boulardi has not been similarly examined. Using sequence-based programs, we report the presence of conserved proteins in both proteomes with strong enrichment in the endomembrane and exosomal cell components. Extracellular vesicle mark

SUBMITTER: Chou J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11944595 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature