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 has been used in standard bacterium-killing assay to determine bactericidal activity and study the role of melittin in allergic reactions.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Binds calmodulin in a Ca2+-dependent manner; inhibits Na+-K+-ATPase.
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.
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 hemolytic agent.The encoed 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.
Lyophilized from 0.1% TFA in H2O
Packaging
1 mg in poly drum
250 µg in glass bottle