Pattern analysis of venomous components extracted from the venom sac of Vespa dybowskii : Comparison with those from V. simillima xanthoptera and V. crabro flavofasciata

Abstract

Comparative study on venomous components extracted from the venom sacs of Japanese hornets, V. dybowskii, V. simillima and V. crabro, was achieved by the pattern analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography. Proteinous components in the venom sac of V. dybowskii were electrophoretically different in the range of 2.5 to 205 kDa from those of V. simillima and V. crabro. In contrast, profiles of proteinous components in the venom sacs of both V. simillima and V. crabro showed a high homology. Biogenic amines such as histamine, serotonin, putrescine, and spermidine were observed as common components in three kinds of Vespa venoms. On the other hand, large amounts of putrescine and serotonin were contained in V. dybowskii venom compared with those in the other venoms. Mastoparans and Ves-CPs, which are common active peptides found in Vespa venoms, were observed in the venoms of V. simillima or V. crabro but were not detected in V. dybowskii venom.