Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans
Bombardier beetles have evolved a sophisticated and unique chemical defence mechanism involving controlled explosions within their paired defensive glands, producing a hot, benzoquinone-rich defensive spray. The molecular basis of this response is not well characterized. We therefore combined the tr...
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| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
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| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241823 |
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| author | Heiko Vogel Nicolai Rügen Natalie Wielsch Richard M. Twyman Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas |
| author_facet | Heiko Vogel Nicolai Rügen Natalie Wielsch Richard M. Twyman Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas |
| author_sort | Heiko Vogel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Bombardier beetles have evolved a sophisticated and unique chemical defence mechanism involving controlled explosions within their paired defensive glands, producing a hot, benzoquinone-rich defensive spray. The molecular basis of this response is not well characterized. We therefore combined the transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of different gland compartments in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) to identify abundant transcripts and gland-specific proteins with key defensive functions, such as catalases, peroxidases and enzymes involved in hydroquinone synthesis. By combining precise dissections with protein sequence analysis, we built a comprehensive atlas of the relevant proteins and their spatio-temporal organization. We found that glucose is important as a stable precursor of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone. These chemicals, together with gland-specific peroxidases and catalases, then initiate the explosive defence reaction. We also present evidence that the evolution of explosive secretions involved the functional adaptation of peroxidase genes involving atypical substitutions in otherwise highly conserved protein domains. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-746c27d88165406da0bb4ce9fbe2e59a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-746c27d88165406da0bb4ce9fbe2e59a2025-08-20T03:08:17ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032025-05-0112510.1098/rsos.241823Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitansHeiko Vogel0Nicolai Rügen1Natalie Wielsch2Richard M. Twyman3Miray Tonk-Rügen4Andreas Vilcinskas5Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, GermanyBranch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Hessen 35392, GermanyResearch Group Mass Spectrometry/Proteomics, Max-Planck-Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, Thüringen 07745, GermanyTRM Ltd, Scarborough, UKInstitute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig Universitat Giessen, Giessen, Hessen 35392, GermanyBranch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, Giessen, Hessen 35392, GermanyBombardier beetles have evolved a sophisticated and unique chemical defence mechanism involving controlled explosions within their paired defensive glands, producing a hot, benzoquinone-rich defensive spray. The molecular basis of this response is not well characterized. We therefore combined the transcriptomic and proteomic analysis of different gland compartments in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) to identify abundant transcripts and gland-specific proteins with key defensive functions, such as catalases, peroxidases and enzymes involved in hydroquinone synthesis. By combining precise dissections with protein sequence analysis, we built a comprehensive atlas of the relevant proteins and their spatio-temporal organization. We found that glucose is important as a stable precursor of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone. These chemicals, together with gland-specific peroxidases and catalases, then initiate the explosive defence reaction. We also present evidence that the evolution of explosive secretions involved the functional adaptation of peroxidase genes involving atypical substitutions in otherwise highly conserved protein domains.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241823chemical defenceomicshydroquinonehydrogen peroxidebombardier beetlesBrachinus crepitans |
| spellingShingle | Heiko Vogel Nicolai Rügen Natalie Wielsch Richard M. Twyman Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans Royal Society Open Science chemical defence omics hydroquinone hydrogen peroxide bombardier beetles Brachinus crepitans |
| title | Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans |
| title_full | Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans |
| title_fullStr | Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans |
| title_short | Molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle Brachinus crepitans |
| title_sort | molecular basis of the explosive defence response in the bombardier beetle brachinus crepitans |
| topic | chemical defence omics hydroquinone hydrogen peroxide bombardier beetles Brachinus crepitans |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241823 |
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