PROTEIN-COMPONENTS OF TROPICAL ANT VENOMS AND THEIR EFFECT ON MITOCHONDRIAL H-ATPASE()

Protein compositions of venoms of South-American stinging ants, Ectato mma tuberculatum, Paraponera clavata (subfamily Ponerinae), and ''tang arana'' were analyzed. The venom of E. tuberculatum displayed the most complex protein composition (more than 15 polypeptides). The water-so luble fraction of the venoms of P. clavata and ''tangarana'' contained acidic proteins (pI <3.5 to 5.2), whereas the venom of E. tuberculatu m contained predominantly basic proteins (pI 8 to >9.5). N-Terminal re sidues and N-terminal sequences of a number of polypeptides were deter mined. High-molecular-mass polypeptides of the P. clavata venom slight ly stimulated the ATPase activity of mitochondrial F-1-ATPase. Low-mol ecular-mass nonprotein components of this venom significantly inhibite d the ATPase activity of submitochondrial particles and F-1-ATPase fro m bovine heart mitochondria. The venoms of E. tuberculatum and ''tanga rana'' produced no effect on the ATPase activity.