First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris
Abstract Background Poison frogs are known for the outstanding diversity of alkaloid-based chemical defences with promising therapeutic applications. However, current knowledge about chemical defences in Dendrobatoidea superfamily has two sources of bias. First, cryptic, brown-colored species have b...
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doaj-6a28841e1fa74218afbcf69b827360c92021-08-29T11:30:35ZengBMCFrontiers in Zoology1742-99942021-08-0118111510.1186/s12983-021-00420-1First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventrisMabel Gonzalez0Pablo Palacios-Rodriguez1Jack Hernandez-Restrepo2Marco González-Santoro3Adolfo Amézquita4Andrés E. Brunetti5Chiara Carazzone6Department of Chemistry, Universidad de los AndesDepartment of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesDepartment of Biological SciencesLaboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Instituto de Biología Subtropical (CONICET - UNaM), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de MisionesDepartment of Chemistry, Universidad de los AndesAbstract Background Poison frogs are known for the outstanding diversity of alkaloid-based chemical defences with promising therapeutic applications. However, current knowledge about chemical defences in Dendrobatoidea superfamily has two sources of bias. First, cryptic, brown-colored species have been neglected in comparison to those conspicuously colored, and second, there has been little interest in characterizing metabolites other than alkaloids mediating defensive functions. In an effort to contribute to fill the gap of knowledge about cryptic species and broadening the spectrum of compounds analyzed we have applied head-space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) for extracting amphibian alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Silverstoneia punctiventris. Results Using the skin from 8 specimens in 4 biological replicates we have found 33 different compounds. Twenty of them were classified as VOCs into 15 chemical classes including alkanes, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, methylpyridines, benzothiazoles, N-alkylpyrrolidines, pyrazines, and sesquiterpenoids, some of which were previously reported as repellents, defence compounds or defence pheromones in other organisms, and as sex pheromones in a treefrog. Interestingly, six of the remaining compounds were identified as alkaloids previously reported in other toxic/unpalatable dendrobatid frogs. Conclusions This is the first report of alkaloids and VOCs found in the Silverstoneia genus, which has been assumed for decades as non-chemically defended. This study establishes HS-SPME/GC-MS as a new application for a simultaneous approach to amphibian alkaloids and VOCs in poison frogs while opens up new research questions to assess the co-occurrence of both type of compounds and to investigate the evolutionary significance of a defence gradient that includes olfactory avoidance, unpalatability, and toxicity in dendrobatids. In addition, our results show that amphibian alkaloids could have a dual function (olfactory at distance, taste by contact) never explored before neither in Silverstonaeia nor in any other dendrobatid species.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-021-00420-1HS-SPME/GC-MSOdourChemical communicationAnti-predatory signalUnpalatabilityRepellent |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mabel Gonzalez Pablo Palacios-Rodriguez Jack Hernandez-Restrepo Marco González-Santoro Adolfo Amézquita Andrés E. Brunetti Chiara Carazzone |
spellingShingle |
Mabel Gonzalez Pablo Palacios-Rodriguez Jack Hernandez-Restrepo Marco González-Santoro Adolfo Amézquita Andrés E. Brunetti Chiara Carazzone First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris Frontiers in Zoology HS-SPME/GC-MS Odour Chemical communication Anti-predatory signal Unpalatability Repellent |
author_facet |
Mabel Gonzalez Pablo Palacios-Rodriguez Jack Hernandez-Restrepo Marco González-Santoro Adolfo Amézquita Andrés E. Brunetti Chiara Carazzone |
author_sort |
Mabel Gonzalez |
title |
First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris |
title_short |
First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris |
title_full |
First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris |
title_fullStr |
First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris |
title_full_unstemmed |
First characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the cryptic dendrobatid Silverstoneia punctiventris |
title_sort |
first characterization of toxic alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (vocs) in the cryptic dendrobatid silverstoneia punctiventris |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Frontiers in Zoology |
issn |
1742-9994 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Abstract Background Poison frogs are known for the outstanding diversity of alkaloid-based chemical defences with promising therapeutic applications. However, current knowledge about chemical defences in Dendrobatoidea superfamily has two sources of bias. First, cryptic, brown-colored species have been neglected in comparison to those conspicuously colored, and second, there has been little interest in characterizing metabolites other than alkaloids mediating defensive functions. In an effort to contribute to fill the gap of knowledge about cryptic species and broadening the spectrum of compounds analyzed we have applied head-space solid phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) for extracting amphibian alkaloids and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from Silverstoneia punctiventris. Results Using the skin from 8 specimens in 4 biological replicates we have found 33 different compounds. Twenty of them were classified as VOCs into 15 chemical classes including alkanes, alcohols, carbonyl compounds, methylpyridines, benzothiazoles, N-alkylpyrrolidines, pyrazines, and sesquiterpenoids, some of which were previously reported as repellents, defence compounds or defence pheromones in other organisms, and as sex pheromones in a treefrog. Interestingly, six of the remaining compounds were identified as alkaloids previously reported in other toxic/unpalatable dendrobatid frogs. Conclusions This is the first report of alkaloids and VOCs found in the Silverstoneia genus, which has been assumed for decades as non-chemically defended. This study establishes HS-SPME/GC-MS as a new application for a simultaneous approach to amphibian alkaloids and VOCs in poison frogs while opens up new research questions to assess the co-occurrence of both type of compounds and to investigate the evolutionary significance of a defence gradient that includes olfactory avoidance, unpalatability, and toxicity in dendrobatids. In addition, our results show that amphibian alkaloids could have a dual function (olfactory at distance, taste by contact) never explored before neither in Silverstonaeia nor in any other dendrobatid species. |
topic |
HS-SPME/GC-MS Odour Chemical communication Anti-predatory signal Unpalatability Repellent |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-021-00420-1 |
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