Biochemical properties of ricin in immature castor seed.
The biochemical properties of ricin at different stages of seed i.e. from immature to mature seed were studied. Hemagglutination, SDS-PAGE and UV-spectrometry studies showed total absence of RCA protein in the immature seed. Interestingly, ricin extract on SDS-PAGE showed only one protein band with a molecular weight of 29,000 dalton corresponding to the molecular weight of A chain of ricin. Our results have shown that at immature seed level only the toxic moiety of ricin (A chain) is being synthesized first and gradually the RCA and B chain of ricin.
Natural Products and Medicinal Chemistry Laboratory, Island Vitamins - Venus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farmingdale, New York 11735, USA. srinivas@venuspharmaceuticals.com
Srinivas V S
SV
Chakravartula
Nagaraj
N
Guttarla
D002367:Ricinus communis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D018525:Germination; D012276:Ricin / Q000032:analysis*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development
D012276:Ricin