Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026
10:35
Production and Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Mimics
Published on: April 10, 2026
Does dimeric melittin occur in aqueous solutions?
Biophysical Journal
|May 12, 2009
Summary
Melittin, a peptide from bee venom, can form tetramers in water. This study found that the dimeric form of melittin is not significantly present during this association process.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Protein Chemistry
Background:
- Melittin, a primary component of bee venom, is a well-characterized peptide.
- Melittin is known to reversibly associate in aqueous solutions, typically forming monomers and tetramers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role and population of dimeric melittin in its aqueous association equilibrium.
- To quantitatively assess the contribution of dimeric melittin to the overall peptide association.
Main Methods:
- Sedimentation equilibrium experiments were performed using an analytical ultracentrifuge.
- Mathematical analysis of the obtained concentration distribution data was employed.
Main Results:
- The study found that the dimeric state of melittin is not significantly populated in aqueous solutions.
- The contribution of dimeric melittin to the total peptide weight was determined to be likely below 0.5%.
Conclusions:
- The association equilibrium of melittin in aqueous solutions predominantly involves monomer and tetramer forms.
- Dimeric melittin plays a negligible role in the self-assembly of melittin under the studied conditions.
More Related Videos
09:43Study of Short Peptide Adsorption on Solution Dispersed Inorganic Nanoparticles Using Depletion Method
Published on: April 11, 2020
11:04Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Techniques for Determining the Structure and Mechanisms of Metal Ion Recognition and Redox Activity of Metal Binding Oligopeptides
Published on: September 7, 2019
Related Concept Videos
04:01Factors Affecting Solubility
Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
03:24Common Ion Effect
Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Châtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
03:45Formation of Complex Ions
A type of Lewis acid-base chemistry involves the formation of a complex ion (or a coordination complex) comprising a central atom, typically a transition metal cation, surrounded by ions or molecules called ligands. These ligands can be neutral molecules like H2O or NH3, or ions such as CN− or OH−. Often, the ligands act as Lewis bases, donating a pair of electrons to the central atom. These types of Lewis acid-base reactions are examples of a broad subdiscipline called coordination...
02:21Chemical and Solubility Equilibria
The free energy change associated with dissolving a solute in a liter of solvent is called the free energy of a solution, ΔGsolution. The overall ΔGsolution is expressed as the balance of ΔGinteraction against the always-favorable free-energy of mixing, ΔGmixing. Solution formation is favorable if ΔGsolution is less than zero, whereas it is unfavorable if ΔGsolution is greater than zero. In short, for a solution to form and complete dissolution to take place, the Gibbs energy change must be...
02:28Intermolecular Forces in Solutions
The formation of a solution is an example of a spontaneous process, a process that occurs under specified conditions without energy from some external source.
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
When the strengths of the intermolecular forces of attraction between solute and solvent species in a solution are no different than those present in the separated components, the solution is formed with no accompanying energy change. Such a solution is called an ideal solution. A mixture of ideal gases (or gases such as helium and argon,...
02:48Expressing Solution Concentration
A solute is a component of a solution that is typically present at a much lower concentration than the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
Concentrations may be quantitatively assessed using a wide variety of measurement units, each convenient for particular applications. Molarity (M) is a useful concentration unit for many applications in chemistry.
Concentrations may be quantitatively assessed using a wide variety of measurement units, each convenient for particular applications. Molarity (M) is a useful concentration unit for many applications in chemistry.