Ricin is a protein toxin produced by the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) together with a related protein known as R. communis agglutinin (RCA120). Mass spectrometric (MS) assays have the capacity to unambiguously identify ricin and to detect ricin's activity in samples with complex matrices. These qualitative and quantitative assays enable detection and differentiation of ricin from the le...

UNLABELLED A monoclonal antibody-based electrochemical luminescence method was developed for detecting and quantifying ricin in liquid egg, with a limit of detection of 0.2 ng/mL. Because this highly toxic protein, present in the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor), has been used for intentional poisoning in the past, it is important to have sensitive and reliable analytical methodology to detec...

Ricin toxin's binding subunit (RTB) is a galactose-/N-acetylgalactosamine (Gal/GalNac)-specific lectin that mediates uptake and intracellular trafficking of ricin within mammalian cells. Structurally, RTB consists of two globular domains, each divided into three homologous sub-domains (α, β, γ). In this report, we describe five new murine IgG monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against RTB: MH3, 8A1, ...

Ricin exhibits well characterized ribotoxic actions that lead to the inhibition of protein synthesis and the phosphorylation of stress activated protein kinases (SAPKs). Proinflammatory effects of ricin are thought to be caused by upregulation of genes encoding proinflammatory transcripts as a result of the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK. We reported previously that ma...

The feasibility of selectively eliminating human antigen-specific B cell responses by treating cells in vitro with antigen covalently linked to a cell toxin was examined. Tetanus toxoid (TT) was conjugated to the toxin ricin via a thioether linkage. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from recently immunized subjects were preincubated for 2 h with TT-ricin in the presence of lactose. Antigen was...

The role of the two galactose binding sites of ricin B chain in ricin toxicity was evaluated by studying a series of ricin point mutants. Wild-type (WT) ricin and three ricin B chain point mutants having mutations in either 1) the first galactose binding domain (site 1 mutant, Met in place of Lys-40 and Gly in place of Asn-46), 2) the second galactose binding domain (site 2 mutant, Gly in place...

Ricin, derived from the castor bean plant Ricinus communis, is one of the most potent and lethal toxins known, against which there is no available antidote. To date, the use of neutralizing antibodies is the most promising post-exposure treatment for ricin intoxication. The aim of this study was to isolate high affinity anti-ricin antibodies that possess potent toxin-neutralization capabilities...

A new approach, graph-grammars, to encode RNA tertiary structure patterns is introduced and exemplified with the classical sarcin-ricin motif. The sarcin-ricin motif is found in the stem of the crucial ribosomal loop E (also referred to as the sarcin-ricin loop), which is sensitive to the alpha-sarcin and ricin toxins. Here, we generate a graph-grammar for the sarcin-ricin motif and apply it to...

Ricin is one of the most toxic and easily produced plant protein toxin extracted from the castor oil plant, and it has been classified as a chemical warfare agent. Here, nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) at 30 kV/cm (pulse durations: 10 ns, 100 ns, and 300 ns) were applied to inactivating ricin up to 4.2 μg/mL. To investigate the efficacy, cells and mice were tested against the ricin t...

Ricin, the cytotoxic protein isolated from castor beans, is composed of two subunits, A-chain and B-chain. Ricin intoxicates cells by binding through its B-chain to galactose-terminated oligosaccharides found on the surface of all eukaryotic cells and then transferring its A-chain to the cytosol where it disrupts protein synthesis by inactivating ribosomes. In addition to binding, the B-chain p...