Melittin (MELT)

Melittin is the principal active component of bee venom (apitoxin), and is a powerful stimulator of phospholipase A2.  Melittin also exhibits potent anti-microbial activity.Melittin has also been shown to kill the yeast Candida albicans and to suppress Mycoplasma hominis and Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Melittin: Main toxin of bee venom with strong hemolytic activity. Forms a pore in the cell membrane by inserting into lipid bilayers in an alpha-helical conformation and has multiple effects, probably, as a result of its interaction with negatively charged phospholipids. It inhibits well known transport pumps such as the Na+-K+-ATPase and the H+-K+-ATPase. It increases the permeability of cell membranes to ions, particularly Na+ and indirectly Ca2+, because of the Na+-Ca2+-exchange. It acts synergistically with phospholipase A2.