title: Structure and biological activities of a new mastoparan isolated from the venom of the hornet Vespa basalis.
abstract: By gel filtration on a Fractogel TSK HW 50 column followed by cation-exchange chromatography on CM-Trisacryl M, a tetradecapeptide amide, designated 'mastoparan B', was purified from the venom of the hornet Vespa basalis. Its amino acid sequence was determined as: Leu-Lys-Leu-Lys-Ser-Ile-Val-Ser-Trp-Ala-Lys-Lys-Val-Leu-NH2 and its molecular mass was measured to be 1611 Da by fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry. In addition to having a common structure of vespid mastoparans, the peptide shows a less hydrophobic sequence at positions 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9. The peptide caused liberation of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells and induced oedema in the rat paw. However, the latter effect was inhibited by 'anti-serotonin' (anti-5-hydroxytryptamine) (cyproheptadine), but not by antihistamine (chlorpheniramine). The peptide also possesses a potent haemolytic activity which acts in synergy with the lethal protein of the venom, suggesting the possible involvement of mastoparan B in the lethal effect of Vespa basalis venom.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010455:Peptides; D051381:Rats; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity; D014863:Wasps
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C037500:mastoparan