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TOXINS NEUTRALIZE TOXINS. "Nine formicine species, representing all major clades, used a stereotyped grooming behavior to self-apply formic acid...in response to fire ant...venom exposure. In laboratory assays, this behavior increased the survivorship of species following exposure to S. invicta venom. This pattern, combined with the specific chemistry of the reaction of formic acid with venom alkaloids, indicates that alkaloid venoms are targets of detoxification grooming." https://lnkd.in/eC4YnVu View in LinkedIn

HANDLING CAUSTIC LIQUIDS. "Although this pathway has been established in various organism, the uniqueness of the poison gland system is that it accumulates formic acid to large extent, yet avoids its cytotoxicity. This is made possible by a combination of the biochemical characteristics of the pathway and the special morphological features of the poison gland." All enzymes reactions at ambient temperatures. https://lnkd.in/eiAXv4p View in LinkedIn

CHEMICAL SYNTHESIS OF FORMIC ACID in a lab requires oxalic acid, glycerine and 100'C for 12-15 hours, then needing to be distilled twice. Alternatively, extract it from ants themselves. Notably, when a water is added to a strong acid, it can be quite violently explosive. How does an insect achieve the synthesis of a very concentrated and powerful acid? https://lnkd.in/egGiPtk View in LinkedIn

FRAGMENT FROM NATURE continues from last weekend with insect formic acid. This highly caustic substance is central to the lives in of formicine ants and some other insects. Their bodies manufacture it, they bathe in it, breath it, use it on their babies, mysteriously without harmful effects. And because of their sheer numbers, they contribute significantly to atmospheric formic acid in the tropics. View in LinkedIn

SO ENDS our journey into the world of prions, the rule-breaking counter-intuitive beasties that go to prove that we have far from figured out some basics of molecular biology, and that we should probably abandon quaint views about what is life and non-life in favor for a very broad spectrum that includes the very improbable, like prions. View in LinkedIn

DESIGNER PRIONS. "In part because of their extreme weirdness, prions have a lot of potential. We may learn to exploit the prion's "tricks" and turn them into tools. Designer prions could someday be used to remodel brains, in order to cure mental diseases or forge artificial memories or implant nano-computer chips. Such futuristic tools could, of course, also be turned into weapons." http://www.strangehorizons.com/2004/20040216/killer.shtml View in LinkedIn

OTHER FORMS? "Proteins can and do change shape for many different reasons. If PrP can become a disease-causing prion, what about other proteins? So far, none have been identified. But, again, absence of proof is not proof of absence." http://www.strangehorizons.com/2004/20040216/killer.shtml View in LinkedIn

NO HYPOTHESIS. "The fact that any of a variety of TSE variants (“strains”) can propagate in mice with the same PrP protein sequence made many skeptical of the prion hypothesis because no mechanism for propagation of conformation was even hypothesized." https://lnkd.in/eTW5Tb4 View in LinkedIn

RELATIVE CONTRIBUTION to atmospheric formic acid has been estimated as follows (Tg/yr): atmospheric chemistry, 30; formicine ants, 0.6; motor vehicles, 0.002; biomass and refuse combustion,

SHAPE-CHANGING INFECTIVITY. "Why the shape change occurs is not clear. The prion apparently fascinates its PrP counterparts, for the PrP proteins take to the prion like social zeroes to a cult leader. And, like slavish cult members, the PrP proteins emulate their new leader, converting their helical structures into the flat beta-sheet conformation. This shape-changing is the equivalent of infection." http://www.strangehorizons.com/2004/20040216/killer.shtml View in LinkedIn