PARTIAL BIOCHEMICAL-CHARACTERIZATION OF VENOM FROM THE ANT, PSEUDOMYRMEX TRIPLARINUS

Venom from the ant, Pseudomyrmex triplarinus, contains 12 proteins with mel. wts of > 100,000-4200, and they constitute 41.5% of the dry weight. In comparison with published data on ant, wasp, and bee venoms, whole venom has intense phospholipase activity and intermediate hemolytic activity. Four major proteins were isolated and purified by low pressure chromatography. The most abundant protein had a mel. wt of 4200 and weak hemolytic activity. The second most common protein was 20,400 and had phospholipase A, activity. The other two major proteins had mel. wts of 24,500 and 14,100 and both exhibited phospholipase and direct hemolytic activities. There are eight minor proteins (>100,000-40,000), each present at about 1% or less of the total protein. Assayed as a mixture, they had hyaluronidase activity. Seventeen free amino acids were detected with aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and proline together making up 72% of the total mass of amino acids. Glycerol was present at a concentration of 3.1% of the dry weight and the venom was devoid of lipids.