Ant venoms contain vertebrate-selective pain-causing sodium channel toxins.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 37221205.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-023-38839-1 and PMC identifier 10206162.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Stings of certain ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) can cause intense, long-lasting nociception. Here we show that the major contributors to these symptoms are venom peptides that modulate the activity of voltage-gated sodium (Na<sub>V</sub>) channels, reducing their voltage threshold for activation and inhibiting channel inactivation. These peptide toxins are likely vertebrate-selective, consistent with a primarily defensive function. They emerged early in the Formicidae lineage and may have been a pivotal factor in the expansion of ants.
Medical subject headings
- Animals
- Ant Venoms
- Toxins, Biological
- Ants
- Pain
- Sodium Channels
- Vertebrates