dictionary help| melittin | medical dictionary |
<protein>
The major component of bee venom, responsible for the pain of the sting.
A 26 amino acid peptide, that has a hydrophobic and a positively charged region. Can lyse cell membranes and activate phospholipase A2 enzymes, it has a very high affinity for calmodulin but the biological relevance of this is unclear.
(13 Nov 1997)
melitose, melitracen hydrochloride, melitriose, melitten < Prev | Next > melituria, Melkersson, Ernst
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