title: Comparison of ribosome-inactivating proteins in the induction of apoptosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of verocytotoxin-1 (VT1), VT1 B chain alone, ricin and a hybrid toxin (RASTA2) consisting of ricin A chain linked to VT1 B chain to inhibit protein synthesis and to induce apoptosis. The lethal effects of the toxins were compared using vero cells (originating from green African monkey kidney tissue). As previously described cell death occurred through apoptosis which was quantified using the diphenylamine assay. DNA fragmentation was seen with VT1 at 10 pg/ml but there was no effect with B chain alone. Fragmentation with ricin was seen at 10 ng/ml and with RASTA2 at 1 ng/ml. Protein synthesis inhibition was measured by [(35)S]methionine incorporation. VT1 had an IC50 of 0.0024 ng/ml, B chain alone was ineffective at inhibiting protein synthesis. Ricin had an IC50 of 0.39 ng/ml and RASTA2 of 1.7 ng/ml. In vero cells the B chain of these toxins does not participate in cell killing.
authors.affiliation: Renal Research Laboratory, Clinical Research Block, University Hospital, Birmingham, UK. j.m.williams.med@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Milford
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000633:toxicity; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D004926:Escherichia coli; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000187:drug effects*; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D012276:Ricin