Mastoparan

Mastoparan is a synthetic research peptide in the mastoparan wasp-venom signaling peptide family. Mastoparan is an amphipathic tetradecapeptide from wasp venom that directly activates heterotrimeric G proteins by promoting GDP/GTP exchange. It has also been used to study secretion, membrane interaction, phospholipase signaling, and G-protein-dependent versus G-protein-independent cellular effects.

• heterotrimeric G-protein activation studies
• GDP/GTP exchange assays
• membrane-interaction experiments
• secretion and signaling studies
• mastoparan analog structure-function comparisons

The exact sequence, isoform, residue substitutions, amidation, stereochemistry, labels, and other chemical modifications can change activity substantially. For receptor-activating peptides and membrane-active peptides, concentration and assay format are especially important and should be matched to the intended experimental system.

1. Mastoparan mimics receptors by activating GTP-binding regulatory proteins
2. Mastoparan identifies discrete stimulatory pathways in mast cells