A single affinity column step method for the purification of ricin toxin from castor beans (Ricinus communis).
A rapid method for purifying ricin toxin from castor beans is presented which uses a single affinity column step to obtain pure toxin from a crude extract of castor beans. A galactosyl-Sepharose affinity matrix was used to bind ricin toxin and its associated agglutinin, which both bind specifically to galactose, from a crude extract. The selective elution of ricin toxin and agglutinin was then achieved by eluting the affinity column with a galactose gradient, which sequentially elutes the two proteins due to a difference in binding avidity to the matrix.
D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000032:analysis*; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D005690:Galactose; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D012276:Ricin / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012278:Ricinus / Q000032:analysis*; D012685:Sepharose
D037121:Plant Lectins; D012276:Ricin; D012685:Sepharose; D005690:Galactose