- Email: [email protected]
Preliminary analysis of the venom of the bull dog ant (Myrmecia forficata)
ABSTRACTS
287
ns to L~xna, I. S., TeoMas, D: W. and Tvi.ea, M. J. (United Kingdom) : Préliminary analysis of the venom of the bull dog ant (Myrmecta for~cata). Bioc/tem. Pharm. (Corlf: Issue), 12, 187, 1963. Tmi venom of the bull dog ant (Myrmecta jorficata) stimulated the guinea pig ileum and rat uterus and depressed cat blood pressure. Analysis by paper chromatography has revealed at least two components, one of which is pharmacologically indistinguishable from histamine, and a second which is sensitive to trypsin. The latter appeared in part to be responsible for a delayed response to the venom in man. D.W .M. Lr, K. M. (Dept. Physiol., Univ. Hong Kong): Action of puffer fish poison. Nature, Lond., 200, 791, 1963 . Trn? author questions the conclusions previously presented by other workers that puffer poison acts centrally and peripherally to produce respiratory and neuromuscular paralyses. The results of a physiological study are presented which indicate that the cause of death was due to respiratory arrest from central action of the toxin on the brain stem respiratory centers. B.W .H . Maxxr, F. and Wrrxor, B. (Nat . Inst. Arthritis Metabol. Dis., N.LH., Bethesda, Maryland) : "The venom of the Colombian arrow poison frog Phyllobates bicolor." F,xperientia, 19, 329, 1963 . Trn; authors first present a review of the literature on kokoi, the very toxic arrow poison used by Chocb Indians of Colombia . A geographical and ethnological background is given. Kokoi is a skin secretion of the frog Phyllobates bicolor, which is nowadays difficult to obtain in large amounts. The authors used venom obtained by extracting the skin of 330 kokoi frogs with methanol. Thecrude material (910 mg) was subjected to several purification procedures including fat solvents extraction and thin layer chromatography . The process resulted in a 60-fold purification of the crude extract. The end product was chromatographically homogeneous. The amount obtained was too small to permit crystallization or melting point determination, but the pK value, i.r . and u.v. spectra and some chemical spot tests are given. Assay of the activity was performed by igjecting white mice with the extracts. One Rg of the pure compound contained 20-30 MLD. This means that the kokoi venom ranks about third or fourth place among the most toxic compounds and is the most active venom so far known. Some pharmacological studies performed with kokoi venom have shown that the lethal effect results from a multiplicity of factors. The outstanding features were an irreversible block of neuromuscular transmission and a powerful contracture of the muscles. Impulse propagation of nerve tissue was not affected by the venom. H.U . M~sreR, R. W. P. and Sruruvesn IGo, S. (Department of Immunology, Haffkine Institute, Bombay, India) : Starch-gel electrophoresis of venons of Indian kraft and saw-scaled viper and identification of enzymes and toxins . Biochim. Btophys. Acts 71, 416, 1963 . of kraft (Bungarus caeruleus) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carirrgtus) were subjected to starch-gel electrophoresis and the different enzymic and toxic principles in the separated components were identified Kraft venom was found to possess 4 toxic components which might account for its highly toxic nature whereas the saw-scaled viper venom was found to have one toxin which was identified as a proteolytic enzyme having a strong coagulant action, VENOMS
Mzct-n., H. and Bncx~avex, H. (Analytical Institute, Univ . of Vienna, Austria). Über freie Aminosäuren im Gift der Gelbbauchunke Bombing varieggta L. Monatsh. f. Chem., 95, 480, 1964 . Uxx venom contains amongst peptides and proteins 12 non proteinbound aminoacids, y-aminobutyric acid and S-hydroxytryptamine. The composition of this aminoacid mixture is not influenced by nutrition and remained invariable over a four-year period of investigation. Maps for thin-layer chromatography of potentially in animal venons occuring aminoacids and amines are presented. H.M .
287
ns to L~xna, I. S., TeoMas, D: W. and Tvi.ea, M. J. (United Kingdom) : Préliminary analysis of the venom of the bull dog ant (Myrmecta for~cata). Bioc/tem. Pharm. (Corlf: Issue), 12, 187, 1963. Tmi venom of the bull dog ant (Myrmecta jorficata) stimulated the guinea pig ileum and rat uterus and depressed cat blood pressure. Analysis by paper chromatography has revealed at least two components, one of which is pharmacologically indistinguishable from histamine, and a second which is sensitive to trypsin. The latter appeared in part to be responsible for a delayed response to the venom in man. D.W .M. Lr, K. M. (Dept. Physiol., Univ. Hong Kong): Action of puffer fish poison. Nature, Lond., 200, 791, 1963 . Trn? author questions the conclusions previously presented by other workers that puffer poison acts centrally and peripherally to produce respiratory and neuromuscular paralyses. The results of a physiological study are presented which indicate that the cause of death was due to respiratory arrest from central action of the toxin on the brain stem respiratory centers. B.W .H . Maxxr, F. and Wrrxor, B. (Nat . Inst. Arthritis Metabol. Dis., N.LH., Bethesda, Maryland) : "The venom of the Colombian arrow poison frog Phyllobates bicolor." F,xperientia, 19, 329, 1963 . Trn; authors first present a review of the literature on kokoi, the very toxic arrow poison used by Chocb Indians of Colombia . A geographical and ethnological background is given. Kokoi is a skin secretion of the frog Phyllobates bicolor, which is nowadays difficult to obtain in large amounts. The authors used venom obtained by extracting the skin of 330 kokoi frogs with methanol. Thecrude material (910 mg) was subjected to several purification procedures including fat solvents extraction and thin layer chromatography . The process resulted in a 60-fold purification of the crude extract. The end product was chromatographically homogeneous. The amount obtained was too small to permit crystallization or melting point determination, but the pK value, i.r . and u.v. spectra and some chemical spot tests are given. Assay of the activity was performed by igjecting white mice with the extracts. One Rg of the pure compound contained 20-30 MLD. This means that the kokoi venom ranks about third or fourth place among the most toxic compounds and is the most active venom so far known. Some pharmacological studies performed with kokoi venom have shown that the lethal effect results from a multiplicity of factors. The outstanding features were an irreversible block of neuromuscular transmission and a powerful contracture of the muscles. Impulse propagation of nerve tissue was not affected by the venom. H.U . M~sreR, R. W. P. and Sruruvesn IGo, S. (Department of Immunology, Haffkine Institute, Bombay, India) : Starch-gel electrophoresis of venons of Indian kraft and saw-scaled viper and identification of enzymes and toxins . Biochim. Btophys. Acts 71, 416, 1963 . of kraft (Bungarus caeruleus) and saw-scaled viper (Echis carirrgtus) were subjected to starch-gel electrophoresis and the different enzymic and toxic principles in the separated components were identified Kraft venom was found to possess 4 toxic components which might account for its highly toxic nature whereas the saw-scaled viper venom was found to have one toxin which was identified as a proteolytic enzyme having a strong coagulant action, VENOMS
Mzct-n., H. and Bncx~avex, H. (Analytical Institute, Univ . of Vienna, Austria). Über freie Aminosäuren im Gift der Gelbbauchunke Bombing varieggta L. Monatsh. f. Chem., 95, 480, 1964 . Uxx venom contains amongst peptides and proteins 12 non proteinbound aminoacids, y-aminobutyric acid and S-hydroxytryptamine. The composition of this aminoacid mixture is not influenced by nutrition and remained invariable over a four-year period of investigation. Maps for thin-layer chromatography of potentially in animal venons occuring aminoacids and amines are presented. H.M .