Chemical Investigation of the Hornet (Vespa xanthoptera Cameron) Venom. The Structure of a New Bradykinin Analogue “Vespakinin-X”

Abstract

The biological active substances in the venom of hornet (Vespa xanthoptera) on the rat uterus, the rat arterial blood pressure, the guinea pig ileum and the rabbit erythrocytes were investigated. A new type of bradykinin analogous peptide, vespakinin-X, was identified as hornet-kinin. The amino acid sequence of vespakinin-X has been found to be Ala-Arg-Pro-Pro-Gly-Phe-Ser-Pro-Phe-Arg-Ile-Val. In addition to the presence of vespakinin-X, histamine, acetyl choline-like substance and large amounts of serotonin were demonstrated in the venom. © 1977, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan. All rights reserved.