Effects of calmodulin and related proteins on the hemolytic activity of melittin

The calcium-dependent binding of melittin by calmodulin effectively inhibits the hemolytic activity of melittin in suspensions of washed rabbit erythrocytes. Protection is also obtained with troponin C (+/-Ca++), denatured phosphorylase kinase, and denatured calcineurin but not with whole troponin or the native enzymes. These effects can be used both in assays for melittin in venom samples and in determinations of calmodulin or related proteins.