1
|
Klunk CL, Argenta MA, Casadei-Ferreira A, Economo EP, Pie MR. Mandibular morphology, task specialization and bite mechanics in Pheidole ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210318. [PMID: 34102082 PMCID: PMC8187013 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ants show remarkable ecological and evolutionary success due to their social life history and division of labour among colony members. In some lineages, the worker force became subdivided into morphologically distinct individuals (i.e. minor versus major workers), allowing for the differential performance of particular roles in the colony. However, the functional and ecological significance of these morphological differences are not well understood. Here, we applied finite element analysis (FEA) to explore the biomechanical differences between major and minor ant worker mandibles. Analyses were carried out on mandibles of two Pheidole species, a dimorphic ant genus. We tested whether major mandibles evolved to minimize stress when compared to minors using combinations of the apical tooth and masticatory margin bites under strike and pressure conditions. Majors performed better in pressure conditions yet, contrary to our expectations, minors performed better in strike bite scenarios. Moreover, we demonstrated that even small morphological differences in ant mandibles might lead to substantial differences in biomechanical responses to bite loading. These results also underscore the potential of FEA to uncover biomechanical consequences of morphological differences within and between ant workers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristian L. Klunk
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| | - Marco A. Argenta
- Department of Civil Construction, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Casadei-Ferreira
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Japan
| | - Evan P. Economo
- Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna, Japan
| | - Marcio R. Pie
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
- Department of Zoology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba-PR, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Morais TR, Conserva GAA, Varela MT, Costa-Silva TA, Thevenard F, Ponci V, Fortuna A, Falcão AC, Tempone AG, Fernandes JPS, Lago JHG. Improving the drug-likeness of inspiring natural products - evaluation of the antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma cruzi through semi-synthetic and simplified analogues of licarin A. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5467. [PMID: 32214193 PMCID: PMC7096397 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62352-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Neolignan licarin A (1) was isolated from leaves of Nectandra oppositifolia (Lauraceae) and displayed activity against trypomastigote forms of the etiologic agent of American trypanosomiasis, Trypanosoma cruzi. Aiming for the establishment of SAR, five different compounds (1a - 1e) were prepared and tested against T. cruzi. The 2-allyl derivative of licarin A (1d) exhibited higher activity against trypomastigotes of T. cruzi (IC50 = 5.0 μM and SI = 9.0), while its heterocyclic derivative 1e displayed IC50 of 10.5 μM and reduced toxicity against NCTC cells (SI > 19.0). However, these compounds presented limited oral bioavailability estimation (<85%, Papp <1.0 × 10-6 cm/s) in parallel artificial membrane permeability assays (PAMPA) due to excessive lipophilicity. Based on these results, different simplified structures of licarin A were designed: vanillin (2), vanillyl alcohol (3), isoeugenol (4), and eugenol (5), as well as its corresponding methyl (a), acetyl (b), O-allyl (c), and C-allyl (d) analogues. Vanillin (2) and its acetyl derivative (2b) displayed expressive activity against intracellular amastigotes of T. cruzi with IC50 values of 5.5 and 5.6 μM, respectively, and reduced toxicity against NCTC cells (CC50 > 200 μM). In addition, these simplified analogues showed a better permeability profile (Papp > 1.0 × 10-6 cm/s) on PAMPA models, resulting in improved drug-likeness. Vanillyl alcohol acetyl derivative (3b) and isoeugenol methyl derivative (4a) displayed activity against the extracellular forms of T. cruzi (trypomastigotes) with IC50 values of 5.1 and 8.8 μM respectively. Based on these results, compounds with higher selectivity index against extracellular forms of the parasite (1d, 1e, 3d, and 4a) were selected for a mechanism of action study. After a short incubation period (1 h) all compounds increased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels of trypomastigotes, suggesting cellular oxidative stress. The ATP levels were increased after two hours of incubation, possibly involving a high energy expenditure of the parasite to control the homeostasis. Except for compound 4a, all compounds induced hyperpolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, demonstrating a mitochondrial imbalance. Considering the unique mitochondria apparatus of T. cruzi and the lethal alterations induced by structurally based on licarin A, these compounds are interesting hits for future drug discovery studies in Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago R Morais
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Geanne A Alves Conserva
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Marina T Varela
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Thais A Costa-Silva
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Thevenard
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil
| | - Vitor Ponci
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brazil
| | - Ana Fortuna
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Coimbra, 3000-370, Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-370, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Amílcar C Falcão
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Coimbra, 3000-370, Coimbra, Portugal
- CIBIT/ICNAS - Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, 3000-370, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andre G Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, 01246-000, Brazil
| | - João Paulo S Fernandes
- Institute of Environmental, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, 09972-270, Brazil.
| | - João Henrique G Lago
- Center of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Universidade Federal do ABC, São Paulo, 09210-580, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|