[Interaction between bee venom melittin and human blood albumin]

It is shown that bee venom melittin interacts with human blood albumin at pH 8.0-8.5 in the presence of NaCl (concentration over 0.1%) and forms a precipitating complex (MA), the albumin/melittin ratio being 1:12 for the monomer melittin. With a decrease of pH down to 5.3 and salt concentration below the limit mentioned, the precipitate is destroyed. The complex is soluble in the distilled water. Conditions for carrying the precipitation reaction between albumin and melittin in agarose gel are chosen. The titration method has been used to determine that melittin is bound up with albumin in the molar ratio (10-12):1 for monomeric melittin or 3:1 for tetrameric melittin.