Mass Spectrometry Analysis and Biological Characterization of the Predatory Ant Odontomachus monticola Venom and Venom Sac Components.

We previously identified 92 toxin-like peptides and proteins， including pilosulin-like peptides 1⁻6 from the predatory ant ， by transcriptome analysis. Here， to further characterize venom components， we analyzed the venom and venom sac extract by ESI-MS/MS with or without trypsin digestion and reducing agent. As the low-molecular-mass components， we found amino acids (leucine/isoleucine， phenylalanine， and tryptophan) and biogenic amines (histamine and tyramine) in the venom and venom sac extract. As the higher molecular mass components， we found peptides and proteins such as pilosulin-like peptides， phospholipase A₂s， hyaluronidase， venom dipeptidyl peptidases， conotoxin-like peptide， and icarapin-like peptide. In addition to pilosulin-like peptides 1⁻6， we found three novel pilosulin-like peptides that were overlooked by transcriptome analysis. Moreover， pilosulin-like peptides 1⁻6 were chemically synthesized， and some of them displayed antimicrobial， hemolytic， and histamine-releasing activities.