SOME ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITIES OF 2 AUSTRALIAN ANT VENOMS - A JUMPER ANT MYRMECIA-PILOSULA AND A BULLDOG ANT MYRMECIA-PYRIFORMIS

Venoms from two related Australian ants, a jumper ant (Myrmecia pilosu la) and a bulldog ant (Myrmecia pyriformis), were quantitatively analy sed for the following enzymic activities: phospholipase A(2), phosphol ipase B, phospholipase C, hyaluronidase, esterase, acid phosphatase, a lkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase. Both venoms contained phosp holipase A(2), phospholipase B, hyaluronidase, acid phosphatase and al kaline phosphatase activities. Myrmecia pyriformis venom had significa ntly greater phospholipase B, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatas e activities than Myrmecia pilosula venom. No detectable quantities of phospholipase C, esterase or phosphodiesterase activities were found in either venom.