Missiles of Mass Disruption: Composition and Glandular Origin of Venom Used as a Projectile Defensive Weapon by the Assassin Bug Platymeris rhadamanthus.

ABSTRACT: Assassin bugs (Reduviidae) produce venoms that are insecticidal, and which induce pain in predators, but the composition and function of their individual venom components is poorly understood. We report findings on the venom system of the red-spotted assassin bug Platymeris rhadamanthus, a large species of African origin that is unique in propelling venom as a projectile weapon when threatened. We performed RNA sequencing experiments on venom glands (separate transcriptomes of the posterior main gland, PMG, and the anterior main gland, AMG), and proteomic experiments on venom that was either defensively propelled or collected from the proboscis in response to electrostimulation. We resolved a venom proteome comprising 166 polypeptides. Both defensively propelled venom and most venom

SUBMITTER: Walker AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6891600 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature