Melittin

Melittin (principal bee-venom peptide)

Melittin is the principal peptide of honeybee venom, making up roughly half of its dry weight. A small, positively charged chain of twenty-six amino acids, it is one of the most studied membrane-active peptides in biochemistry. Researchers are interested in the contrast it presents: membrane-disrupting at high exposure, yet associated with broad anti-inflammatory effects at low exposure.