Non disponible en dehors du Royaume-Uni et de l'Irlande

Amino Acid Sequence

Gly-Ile-Gly-Ala-Val-Leu-Lys-Val-Leu-Thr-Thr-Gly-Leu-Pro-Ala-Leu-Ile-Ser-Trp-Ile-Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg-Gln-Gln-NH2

Application

Melittin from honey bee venom has been used to study the role of melittin in allergic reactions.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Melittin acts as an anti-coagulating protein by increasing the time of blood clotting in vitro. Melittin inhibits the activity of S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B) and plays a vital role in Epilepsy treatment. Melittin retard cathepsin S-induced invasion, proliferation and angiogenesis via inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) /VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR-2)/ mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MEK1)/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in human MHCC97-H cells (liver cancer cells). Melittin has therapeutic application in various inflammatory diseases such as skin inflammation, neuroinflammation, atherosclerosis, arthritis and liver inflammation. Accumulated melittin degrades phospholipid packing in the cell membrane and causes cell lysis and cell death.

Binds calmodulin in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner; inhibits Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase.

General description

Melittin is hydrophobic in nature except for a region with Lys-Arg-Lys-Arg sequence near C-terminal end. This structural characteristic makes melittin a highly surface-active and a powerful, direct haemolytic agent. The encoded protein contains 26 amino acids. Monomeric form of melittin has a molecular weight of 2,840Da and tetrameric form has molecular weight of approximately 12,500Da.

Other Notes

The principle hemolytic component of honeybee venom.