Partial Characterization of Venoms from Two Species of Fire Corals Millepora platyphylla and Millepora dichotoma

Abstract

Venoms of two species of fire corals, Millepora platyphylla and M. dichotoma, possessed lethal, hemolytic and edema-forming activities as well as acid phosphatase and phospholipase A activities. It is noted that the M. platyphylla venom induced hemoglobinurea in mice, while the M. dichotoma venom did not. Both venoms were also distinguishable from each other with respect to stability and molecular weight. Lethal factors having hemolytic activity in the M. platyphylla venom were purified by gel filtration and chromatofocusing. At least three factors were detected during the purification procedure and one of them was obtained in an electrophoretically pure state. All factors were acidic proteins (pI 5.7-6.2) with a molecular weight ranging from 31500 to 33000.