Pompilidotoxin

Pompilidotoxins (PMTXs) are toxic substances that can only be found in the venom of several solitary wasps. This kind of wasp uses their venom to offensively capture prey and is relatively harmless to humans. This is in stark contrast to social insects that defend themselves and their colonies with their venom.

Beta-Pompilidotoxin
Clinical data
Other namesB-Pompilidotoxin, PMTX
Pharmacokinetic data
MetabolismLiver and other proteases
ExcretionKidney and intestines
Identifiers
  • (3S)-3-[[(2S)-2-[[(2S)-2-[[2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-6-amino-2-[[(2S,3S)-2-[[(2S)-2-amino-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)pentanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]hexanoyl]amino]-3-methylpentanoyl]amino]acetyl]amino]-4-methylpentanoyl]amino]-3-phenylpropanoyl]amino]-4-[[(2S)-5-amino-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-[[(2S)-1-amino-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-5-(diaminomethylideneamino)-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxopropan-2-yl]amino]-4-methyl-1-oxopentan-2-yl]amino]-1,5-dioxopentan-2-yl]amino]-4-oxobutanoic acid
CAS Number
PubChem CID
Chemical and physical data
FormulaC71H124N22O17
Molar mass1557.910 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)
Solubility in water≥22.05 mg/mL (20 °C)
  • CCC(C)C(C(=O)NC(CCCCN)C(=O)NC(C(C)CC)C(=O)NCC(=O)NC(CC(C)C)C(=O)NC(CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)NC(CC(=O)O)C(=O)NC(CCC(=O)N)C(=O)NC(CC(C)C)C(=O)NC(CO)C(=O)NC(CCCN=C(N)N)C(=O)NC(CC(C)C)C(=O)N)NC(=O)C(CCCN=C(N)N)N
  • InChI=1S/C71H124N22O17/c1-11-40(9)56(93-62(103)44(23-16-17-27-72)86-69(110)57(41(10)12-2)92-59(100)43(73)22-18-28-80-70(76)77)68(109)82-35-54(96)83-48(31-38(5)6)63(104)89-50(33-42-20-14-13-15-21-42)65(106)90-51(34-55(97)98)66(107)85-46(25-26-53(74)95)61(102)88-49(32-39(7)8)64(105)91-52(36-94)67(108)84-45(24-19-29-81-71(78)79)60(101)87-47(58(75)99)30-37(3)4/h13-15,20-21,37-41,43-52,56-57,94H,11-12,16-19,22-36,72-73H2,1-10H3,(H2,74,95)(H2,75,99)(H,82,109)(H,83,96)(H,84,108)(H,85,107)(H,86,110)(H,87,101)(H,88,102)(H,89,104)(H,90,106)(H,91,105)(H,92,100)(H,93,103)(H,97,98)(H4,76,77,80)(H4,78,79,81)/t40-,41-,43-,44-,45-,46-,47-,48-,49-,50-,51-,52-,56-,57-/m0/s1
  • Key:YBOJYGJMKPMNRC-QRIWDNSUSA-N

The pompilidotoxin producing wasps are part of the Pompilinae subfamily which consists of fifty known genus groups of which only two groups are known to produce the toxin. Both groups produce different variants.

The first notice of a pompilidotoxin variant was made by Konno et.al in 1997 after a survey was conducted of neurotoxins in solitary wasps that inhabit Japan. He purified and synthesised this toxin, now called α-pompilidotoxin from the solitary spider wasp (Anoplius samariensis). The second, closely related variant, β-pompilidotoxin, was found by Konno et.al. a year later in 1998 in another solitary wasp (Batozonellus maculifrons) In this year Konno et.al. also shed concrete light on the structure and function of these toxins.

Anoplius samariensis is known to live distributed over the globe with reported cases in east-Asia, east and central Europe, and Russia. It produces the α-PMTX to act upon the nervous system of a stung victim. This way they can paralyse a wide range of spiders that will then be dragged to the wasp’s nest that is located in the ground, in a cavity of a plant stem, or made from mud. The spider wasp lays its eggs on paralysed spiders so that the hatching larvae can feed on living prey.

In addition to hunting spiders, Batozonellus maculifrons wasps also hunt a large variety of insects. The animals within this genus use both the α-PMTX and β-PMTX. As of date, the wasp has only been reported in China and Japan.

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