Allergens in bee venom. III. Identification of allergen B of bee venom as an acid phosphatase.

Allergen B previously isolated from honeybee venom and shown to be a mildly acidic protein consisting of polymers of a chain of 49,000 d is shown to have acid phosphatase activity. Allergen B is homogeneous by several criteria. No acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, or esterase activity was found in any other allergen or fraction of bee venom. Acid phosphatase activity was also found in yellow jacket venom and extracts of venom sacs from bumblebees and paper wasps.