Properties of a cytolytic toxin from the sea anemone, Stoichactis kenti.

A cytolytic toxin (kentin) from the Indo-Pacific sea anemone, Stoichactis kenti, was purified to near homogeneity. The toxin is a basic polypeptide of molecular weight approximately 18,000. It broadly resembles cytotoxins from Stoichactis helianthus (helianthin), as well as similar toxins from a number of other anemones, namely Condylactis, Epiactis, Actinia, Pseudactinia, Tealia, Anthopleura, Radianthus and Gyrostoma. The amino acid composition of kentin shows considerable resemblance to that of helianthin, but there are also several significant differences. Neutralization tests indicate that kentin and helianthin are immunologically related but distinguishable. In contrast, no immunological relatedness was found between helianthin and cytolytic toxins from Condylactis gigantea and Epiactis prolifera.