MELITTIN

Uses

Melittin has been used in standard bacterium-killing assay to determine bactericidal activity and study the role of melittin in allergic reactions.

Uses

Melittin from honey bee venom has been used:

• In 3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to determine its cytotoxicity effect on the growth of human cell lines.
• To study the anti-microbial activity of melittin on the growth of Borrelia burgdorferi in in vitro conditions.
• As a positive control in hemolysis assay and as a cytotoxic agent against HeLa cells.

Definition

ChEBI: A 26-membered polypeptide consisting of 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 and Gln-NH2 residues joined in sequence. It is the principal active com onent of bee venom.

General Description

Chemical structure: peptide

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.

storage

Store at -20°C