Reference no: EM13173062

Professor Tipton, being an avid hunter, was stalking the woods for morels. He saw a giant morel next to a fallen tree. When he reached down to get it a small timber rattler bit his hand. By time he got back to the car, the bite mark was swollen and extremely painful. Being a card-carrying enzymologist, he knew that many snake venoms contain phospholipases A2. a) Explain why the snake bite caused rapid pain and inflammation (a biochemical explanation; it has nothing to do with Dr. Tipton^TMs pain tolerance). b) Based on your biochemical understanding of the mechanism of the pain (Chapter 10), suggest a possible treatment (no amputations please). c) If too much phospholipase A2 enters the bloodstream, the significant accumulation of one of the products of the reaction acts as a powerful detergent, causing the lysis of red blood cells and potential death. What is this dangerous product and what makes it such a good detergent?

Melittin is a 26 amino acid helical peptide (GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ) that is the major component of bee venom and is responsible for cell death by disrupting the plasma membrane. Develop a logical explanation of how this peptide could facilitate membrane disruption.