Title: Melittin
CAS Registry Number: 20449-79-0
Synonyms: Melittin I; mellitin
Trademarks: Forapin (Mack, Illert.)
Molecular Formula: C131H229N39O31
Molecular Weight: 2846.46
Percent Composition: C 55.28%, H 8.11%, N 19.19%, O 17.42%
Literature References: Strongly basic polypeptide, the principal component of the venom of the honey bee,
Apis mellifica (mellifera), comprising 40-50% of the dried venom. A "direct" hemolysin, one of the hemolytic principles present in the venom, the other being "indirect" acting
phospholipase A. Sepn and isoln: Neumann
et al., Naturwissenschaften 39, 286 (1952); Neumann, Haberman,
Arch. Exp. Pathol. Pharmakol. 222, 367 (1954); Habermann, Reiz,
Biochem. Z. 341, 451 (1965). Melittin is the first polypeptide whose biological effects can be understood on the basis of its primary structure. Elucidation of structure and correlation with activity: E. Habermann, J. Jentsch,
Z. Physiol. Chem. 348, 37 (1967). Conformation studies: R. Bazzo
et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 173, 139 (1988). About 10% of the melittin is thought to be formylated at the
N-terminus: Kreil, Kreil-Kiss,
Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 27, 275 (1967). Isoln and structure of
Na-formyl melittin: Lübke
et al., Experientia 27, 765 (1971). Synthesis of melittin and related peptides: Lübke, Schr?der,
Peptides, H. C. Beyerman, A. van der Linde, W. M. van den Brink, Eds. (North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, 1967) pp 271-279; Dorman, Markley,
J. Med. Chem. 14, 5 (1970); Schr?der
et al., Experientia 27, 764 (1971). Solid phase synthesis and purification: M. T. Tosteson
et al., Biochemistry 26, 6627 (1987). Review of biochemistry and pharmacology: Habermann,
Science 177, 314 (1972).
Properties: Cream white, water soluble powder. [a]D21 -89.52° (c = 0.409).
Optical Rotation: [a]D21 -89.52° (c = 0.409)
Therap-Cat: Antirheumatic.
Keywords: Antiarthritic/Antirheumatic.