apamin

noun

ap·​a·​min ˈa-pə-mən How to pronounce apamin (audio)
: a neurotoxic polypeptide C79H131N31O24S4 in the venom of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) that is used especially in biomedical research
Apamin is a potent bee venom toxin that blocks small calcium-activated potassium channels. This toxin is also the bee venom constituent responsible for the painful sensation that accompanies bee stings.David Gurwitz, The Lancet

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Cite this Entry

“Apamin.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/apamin. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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