2mlt

Structural highlights

Function

MEL_APIME Melittin: Main toxin of bee venom with strong hemolytic activity. Forms a pore in the cell membrane by inserting into lipid bilayers in an alpha-helical conformation and has multiple effects, probably, as a result of its interaction with negatively charged phospholipids. It inhibits well known transport pumps such as the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. It increases the permeability of cell membranes to ions, particularly Na(+) and indirectly Ca(2+), because of the Na(+)-Ca(2+)-exchange. It acts synergistically with phospholipase A2.^[1] Melittin-S: 1.4-fold less hemolytic and adopts a less organized secondary structure than melittin.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Sciani JM, Marques-Porto R, Lourenco Junior A, Orsi Rde O, Ferreira Junior RS, Barraviera B, Pimenta DC. Identification of a novel melittin isoform from Africanized Apis mellifera venom. Peptides. 2010 Aug;31(8):1473-9. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2010.05.001. Epub 2010, May 21. PMID:20472009 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2010.05.001
2. ↑ Sciani JM, Marques-Porto R, Lourenco Junior A, Orsi Rde O, Ferreira Junior RS, Barraviera B, Pimenta DC. Identification of a novel melittin isoform from Africanized Apis mellifera venom. Peptides. 2010 Aug;31(8):1473-9. doi: 10.1016/j.peptides.2010.05.001. Epub 2010, May 21. PMID:20472009 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.peptides.2010.05.001