Publication | Closed Access
Effect of melittin on ion transport across cell membranes.
13
Citations
0
References
1997
Year
CytoskeletonCellular PhysiologyIon TransportMembrane TransportVenomicsTransport PumpsOsmoregulationBiochemistryCardiac MyocytesIon ChannelsMembrane BiologyMembrane SystemMembrane PermeationPharmacologyCell BiologySignal TransductionMultiple EffectsNatural SciencesPhysiologyCellular BiochemistryMedicineExtracellular Matrix
Extensive work with melittin has shown that the venom has multiple effects, probably, as a result of its interaction with negatively changed phospholipids. It inhibits well known transport pumps such as the Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and the H(+)-K(+)-ATPase. Melittin increases the permeability of cell membranes to ions, particularly Na+ and indirectly Ca2+, because of the Na(+)-Ca(2+)-exchange. This effect results in marked morphological and functional changes, particularly in excitable tissues such as cardiac myocytes. In some other tissues, e.g., cornea, not only Na+ but Cl- permeability is also increased by melittin. Similar effects to melittin on H(+)-K(+)-ATPase have been found with the synthetic amphipathic polypeptide Trp-3.