<b>A new mast cell degranulating peptide, polistes mastoparan, in the venom of <i>Polistes </i></b><b><i>jadwigae </i></b>

Abstract

A new mast cell degranulating peptide in wasp (Polfstes jadwigae) venom was purified and characterized chemically. The peptide was a tetradecapeptideamide with the following sequence: Val-Asp-Trp-Lys-Lys-Ile-Gly-Gln-His-Ile-Leu-Ser-Val-Leu-NH2. The peptide was named 'polistes mastoparan'. The lowest concentration of polistes mastoparan which degranulated mast cells was approximately 0.5 nmole/ml. KEY WORDS mast cell degranulating peptide / polistes mastoparan / wasp venom