The glycoprotein nature of phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase and acid phosphatase from honey-bee venom.

Experiments with immobilized concanavalin A strongly suggest a glycoprotein nature of three honey-bee venom enzymes, phospholipase A2, hyaluronidase and acid phosphatase. The electrophoretically and chromatographically detectable heterogeneity of phospholipase A2 results from absence of carbohydrate in a subfraction. Mannose, fucose and N-acetylglucosamine, but not galactose nor N-acetylgalactosamine, are present in the con A-binding fraction of bee venom. It is therefore concluded that only N-glycosidically linked carbohydrate occurs in bee venom glycoproteins.