title: An investigation of the degradation of the plant toxin, ricin, by sodium hypochlorite.
abstract: The toxin, ricin (0.4 microg/microl), was exposed to a range of sodium hypochlorite concentrations. SDS PAGE showed that hypochlorite caused the ricin to smear and decrease in mobility and, ultimately, caused a loss of silver staining. Cytotoxicity assays using dye uptake by Hep2 cells showed that treatment with 3 mM hypochlorite inactivated the ricin. Western blotting and ELISAs showed that binding by polyclonal antibodies raised against native ricin, or partially degraded ricin, diminished as hypochlorite degradation of the ricin increased.
authors.affiliation: Combatant Protection and Nutrition Branch, Aeronautical and Maritime Research Laboratory, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. philip.mackinnon@dsto.defence.gov.au
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Mackinnon
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Alderton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012276:Ricin / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D012276:Ricin; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite