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The bee venom melittin induces lysis of arthropod granular cells and inhibits activation of the prophenoloxidase‐activating system
Author(s) -
Söderhäll Kenneth
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(85)80053-3
Subject(s) - melittin , prophenoloxidase , venom , degranulation , biology , bee venom , lysis , saturniidae , limulus , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , ecology , zoology , membrane , lepidoptera genitalia , innate immune system , paleontology , receptor
The bee venom melittin induced degranulation and lysis of isolated granular cells from freshwater crayfish at a concentration of 3.5 μM. Melittin also efficiently blocked β1,3‐glucan activation of the prophenoloxidase‐activating system present in the blood cells of arthropods. Therefore, it is suggested that melittin in the bee venom may function as a toxin towards parasitic or predatory insects on bees and the bee community.