Biosynthesis of formic acid by the poison glands of formicine ants
- PMID:718985
- DOI: 10.1016/0304-4165(78)90303-3
Biosynthesis of formic acid by the poison glands of formicine ants
Abstract
The biosynthesis of formic acid in the poison glands of formicine ants is closely related to the C-1 metabolism of the glandular cells. Experiments utilizing radiolabeled amino acids revealed that serine is a major precursor, contributing both its alpha and beta carbons to formic acids. 5,10[14C]methylene H4folate and 5,10[14C]methenyl H4folate also serve as precursors of formic acid in the poison gland, suggesting that they are intermediates in the pathway. Furthermore, these H4folate derivates were isolated from poison glands following incubation with [3-14C]serine and proved radioactive. The glandular cells are also exceptionally rich in the enzymes responsible for these reactions, supporting the proposed pathway. Although this pathway has been established in various organisms, the uniqueness of the poison gland system is that it accumulates formic acid to large extent, yet avoids its cytotoxicity. This is made possible by a combination of the biochemical characteristics of the pathway and the special morphological features of the poison gland.
Similar articles
- Primary Metabolism co-Opted for Defensive Chemical Production in the Carabid Beetle, Harpalus pensylvanicus.Rork AM, Xu S, Attygalle A, Renner T.Rork AM, et al.J Chem Ecol. 2021 Mar;47(3):334-349. doi: 10.1007/s10886-021-01253-2. Epub 2021 Mar 10.J Chem Ecol. 2021.PMID:33689113
- Biosynthesis and Accumulation of Formic Acid in the Poison Gland of the Carpenter Ant Camponotus pennsylvanicus.Hefetz A, Blum MS.Hefetz A, et al.Science. 1978 Aug 4;201(4354):454-5. doi: 10.1126/science.201.4354.454.Science. 1978.PMID:17729901
- Defensive chemicals of tawny crazy ants, Nylanderia fulva (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and their toxicity to red imported fire ants, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).Chen J, Rashid T, Feng G, Zhao L, Oi D, Drees BB.Chen J, et al.Toxicon. 2013 Dec 15;76:160-6. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.09.018. Epub 2013 Sep 27.Toxicon. 2013.PMID:24080354
- Occurrence and structural organization of the exocrine glands in the legs of ants.Billen J.Billen J.Arthropod Struct Dev. 2009 Jan;38(1):2-15. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2008.08.002. Epub 2008 Oct 1.Arthropod Struct Dev. 2009.PMID:18775512Review.
- The endocrine secretion of mammalian digestive enzymes by exocrine glands.Isenman L, Liebow C, Rothman S.Isenman L, et al.Am J Physiol. 1999 Feb;276(2):E223-32. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1999.276.2.E223.Am J Physiol. 1999.PMID:9950780Review.
Cited by
- Defensive production of formic acid (80%) by a carabid beetle (Galerita lecontei).Rossini C, Attygalle AB, González A, Smedley SR, Eisner M, Meinwald J, Eisner T.Rossini C, et al.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Jun 24;94(13):6792-7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.94.13.6792.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997.PMID:9192644Free PMC article.
- Non-enzymatic hydrolysis of RNA in workers of the ant Nylanderia pubens.Valles SM, Strong CA, Buss EA, Oi DH.Valles SM, et al.J Insect Sci. 2012;12:146. doi: 10.1673/031.012.14601.J Insect Sci. 2012.PMID:23461820Free PMC article.
- Linking genotypic and phenotypic changes in theE. coli long-term evolution experiment using metabolomics.Favate JS, Skalenko KS, Chiles E, Su X, Yadavalli SS, Shah P.Favate JS, et al.Elife. 2023 Nov 22;12:RP87039. doi: 10.7554/eLife.87039.Elife. 2023.PMID:37991493Free PMC article.
- Formic acid in caustic cephalic secretions of stingless bee,Oxytrigona (Hymenoptera: Apidae).Roubik DW, Smith BH, Carlson RG.Roubik DW, et al.J Chem Ecol. 1987 May;13(5):1079-86. doi: 10.1007/BF01020539.J Chem Ecol. 1987.PMID:24302133
- Hologenomic insights into mammalian adaptations to myrmecophagy.Cheng SC, Liu CB, Yao XQ, Hu JY, Yin TT, Lim BK, Chen W, Wang GD, Zhang CL, Irwin DM, Zhang ZG, Zhang YP, Yu L.Cheng SC, et al.Natl Sci Rev. 2022 Aug 24;10(4):nwac174. doi: 10.1093/nsr/nwac174. eCollection 2023 Apr.Natl Sci Rev. 2022.PMID:37124465Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources