Apamin Apamin Apamin is an 18 amino acid peptide neurotoxin found in apitoxin (bee venom). Dry bee venom consists of 2–3% of apamin. Apamin selectively blocks SK channels, a type of Ca-activated K channel expressed in the central nervous system. Toxicity is caused by only a few amino acids, these are cysteine, lysine, arginine, arginine and histidine. These amino acids are involved in the binding of apamin to the Ca-activated K channel. Due to its specificity for SK channels, apamin is used as a drug in biomedical research to study the electrical properties of SK channels and their role in the
Toxicology of red imported fire ant venom (LD) on tested female rats is 0.36 mg/kg. Approximately 46 proteins have been identified in the red imported fire ant's venom, although scientists have long believed the venom only contained alkaloids. This assumption was mostly due to the difficulties in obtaining sufficient venom for analysis because of its the low protein content, which is only 0.1% of the venom's total weight. These proteins are experimentally suggested to directly account for the anaphylactic reactions seen in humans sensitive to the venom. Whilst including a number of neurotoxins and potential allergens, not all of these proteins are involved with venom function. At