Isolation and characterization of novel venom peptides from Orancistrocerus drewseni solitary wasp (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae)

Four novel venom peptides, Od-mastoparan, OdVP1, OdVP2, and OdVP3 were isolated from the venom of the solitary wasp Orancistrocerus drewseni (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae). The venom peptide amino acid sequences were determined by Q-TOF/MS. Od-mastoparan composed of 14 amino acid residues showed a similar peptide sequence to the eumenine mastoparan-AF (EMP-AF) from Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado solitary wasp, suggesting that it adopts an amphipathic á-helix secondary structure. The full-length open reading frame (ORF) sequence of OdVP1, 2, and 3 was analyzed by 5’- and 3’-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The overall gene structure of OdVPs showed a high homology to the mastoparan B from Vespa basalis by containing signal sequence, prosequence, mature peptide and C-terminal glycine, but the mature peptide (14 amino acids) sequences were distinct from each other. The toxicological property and antimicrobial activity of OdVP1 were characterized using synthetic peptides. This is the first report of venom peptides from O. drewseni, and it should promote further studies on bioactive ingredients in the venom of solitary hunting wasps.