Iodination of Ricin D

Approximately five tyrosine residues of ricin D were iodinated preferentially under appropriate conditions probably forming diiodotyrosine. Iodination of this toxin carried out in 0.1 m phosphate buffer at pH 7.0 and 0°C for 60 min with a 20 fold molar excess of iodine per mole of protein, yielded a main component which appeared as a single band on polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. Analysis of protein-bound radioactivity and the content of diiodotyrosine of ¹⁸¹I-labeled ricin D revealed that two tyrosine residues in the isoleucyl chain and three in the alanyl chain were substituted. The toxicity of iodinated ricin D decreased to one hundredth of that of native protein, However, the hemagglutinating activity of this protein was not affected by the iodination reaction.     

Ricin A-Chain and Ricin A-Chain Immunotoxins Rapidly Damage Human Endothelial Cells: Implications for Vascular Leak Syndrome

The results of Phase I/II clinical trials indicate that ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins cause vascular leak syndrome, characterized by hypoalbuminemia with resultant weight gain and edema. Vascular leak syndrome may be a dose-limiting factor during treatment with ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins. In this report, we determined the effect of ricin A-chain and ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins on human umbilical vein endothelial cells with the aim of developing an in vitro model to study vascular leak syndrome. The major findings of our study are: (1) Human umbilical vein endothelial cells undergo rapid and dramatic changes in morphology after treatment with ricin A-chain and ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins. These changes include rounding of the cells and, eventually, the formation of gaps between them. (2) The permeability of human umbilical vein endothelial cell monolayers to passage of molecules increases after exposure to ricin A-chain or ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins and this is consistent with the morphologic changes. (3) Human umbilical vein endothelial cells bind ¹²⁵ I-rRTA in a dose-dependent manner but binding is not specific. (4) Human umbilical vein endothelial cells are moderately more sensitive to ricin A-chain-induced inhibition of protein synthesis and proliferation than simian virus-transformed mouse endothelial cells. (5) The morphologic changes are observed 1 h after exposure to the toxins, whereas inhibition of protein synthesis is not detectable until 4 h after a similar exposure. The in vitro model represents a first step in dissecting the complex events which occur in cancer patients who develop vascular leak syndrome after treatment with ricin A-chain-containing immunotoxins.     

Isolation of Glycopeptides from Ricin D

Ricin D, a toxic protein from castor bean, was found to contain 6 moles of glucosamine and 17 moles of mannose per mole of protein.

Isolation of two constituent polypeptide chains, namely Ala-chain and Ile-chain, and subsequent proteolytic digestions with Nagarse and Pronase revealed two glycopeptides (Asp₁ Thri Gly₁ glucosamine₂ mannose₆ and Asp₁ Thr₁ Glu₁ Pro₁ glucosamine₂ mannose₇) from Alachain and one (Asp₁ Ile₁ Phe₁ glucosamine₂ mannose₄) from lie-chain. The total carbohydrate content of these glycopeptides accounts for all that of the whole protein. It is therefore that carbohydrate moieties are covalently linked to the polypeptide chains in three sites to form this glycoprotein.     

Ricin toxicity to microglial and monocytic cells.

Microglial cells, like macrophages, are very sensitive to ricin, a galactose-specific toxic lectin belonging to the family of ribosome-inactivating proteins. This toxin can be taken up by most cells through the binding of its B chain to galactose-containing molecules on the cell membrane. In macrophagic cell types it can be internalised also by mannose receptors which are present on the surface of these cells. Endocytosis of the toxin by either pathway was evaluated by ricin toxicity to primary cultures of rat microglial cells and to a microglial N11 cell line in the presence or absence of lactose and mannan, which compete for the endocytosis via the ricin lectin chain or cellular mannose receptors, respectively. Results were compared with those obtained in cultures of mouse macrophages, human monocytes, and a monocytic JM cell line. All cultures were protected from ricin toxicity more by lactose than by mannan, indicating that ricin endocytosis via its lectin B chain is prevalent over that mediated by cellular mannose receptors. However, a partial protection by mannan was observed in all cases but not-stimulated N11 cells, either in the form of direct protection or of significant additional protection over that afforded by lactose. Mannose receptor expression by N11 cells was negative before, and positive after, treatment with endotoxin, as assessed by the specific binding of 125I-mannose-bovine serum albumin. Moreover, a partial protection from ricin toxicity by mannan was induced in the N11 microglial line after stimulation, consistently with an inducible expression of the mannose receptor by activated cells switched towards a microglial phenotype.     

Ricin A-chain activity on stem-loop and unstructured DNA substrates

Ricin toxin A-chain (RTA) depurinates a single adenylate on a GAGA stem-loop region of eukaryotic 28S RNA, making it a potent toxin. Steady state rate analysis is used to establish the kinetic parameters for depurination of short RNA, DNA, and RNA-DNA hybrids of GAGA linear segments and stem-loop regions as substrates for RTA. Both stem and tetraloop structures are essential for action on RNA. For DNA stem-loop substrates, stem stability plays a small role in enhancing catalytic turnover but can enhance binding by up to 3 orders of magnitude. DNA sequences of d[GAGA] without stem-loop structures are found to be slow substrates for RTA. In contrast, equivalent RNA sequences exhibit no activity with RTA. Introduction of a deoxyadenosine at the depurination site of short RNA oligonucleotides restores catalytic function. NMR analysis indicates that the short, nonsubstrate GAGA is converted to substrate in GdAGA by the presence of a more flexible ribosyl group at the deoxyadenosine site. Conversion between C2'-endo and C2'-exo conformations at the deoxyadenosine site moves the 3'- and 5'-phosphorus atoms by 1.1 A, and the former is proposed to place them in a catalytically favorable configuration. The ability to use short RNA-DNA hybrids as substrates for RTA permits exploration of related structures to function as substrates and inhibitors.     

Inactivation of Ricin using 4-azidophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside and 4-diazophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside

4-Azidophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside and 4-diazophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside were used to inactivate ricin. Galactose, but not glucose, protected against inactivation as measured by the retention of the ability of ricin to bind to Bio-Gel A, a galactose-containing gel. Nearly complete inhibition of binding to Bio-Gel A, to monosaccharides, or to cell surface receptors could be achieved by reaction of ricin with either label, but neither label impaired the ability of the A chain to inhibit translation in vitro. The diazonium salt-modified ricin still inhibited cellular protein synthesis, but ricin modified by the photoactivated label was 280 times less efficient than ricin in inhibition of cellular protein synthesis.     

蓖麻毒素A链的基因克隆

作为导向药物蓖麻毒素A(Ricin-A)链在大肠杆菌中表达时不含糖基侧链,在体内半衰期长,可提高共作为导向药物的疗效。我们根据Ricin基因核苷酸序列,设计Ricin-A的上、下游引物,通过PCR(多聚酶链式反应)方法,扩增出Ricin-A链基因。与pUC_(19)载体连接,转化到JM103大肠杆菌中,得到重组克隆。对其进行几种酶切鉴定,证明酶切位点正确,又经序列分析,读出与文献发表的Ricin-A序列只有两个碱基不同,但无氨基酸残基的改变。有关Ricin-A的表达工作正在进行中。     

两种纯化蓖麻毒素方法的比较

两种纯化蓖麻毒素方法的比较陈兴,赵立超,贺永怀,沈倍奋（军事医学科学院基础医学研究所,北京１００８５０）高纯度的蓖麻毒素（ｒｉｃｉｎ）对于免疫毒素的制备至关重要,直接影响到免疫毒素的应用效果。总结本实验室纯化ｒｉｃｉｎ的经验,我们发现蓖麻粗提物依次通...     

一种纯化蓖麻毒素的新方法

该文介绍了一种新的提取、纯化蓖麻毒素的方法,首次将P-苯胺基-1-巯基-β-D-吡喃半乳糖苷（P—aminobenzyl-1-thoi-β-D-galactopyranoside）琼脂糖凝胶作为亲和层析介质,结合凝胶层析介质Sephcaryl S-200,通过两步层析纯化,获得了高纯度的蓖麻毒素。MALDI—TOF测得分子量为62925,LD50为12．4μg／kg。该方法可以制备高纯度蓖麻毒素。     

蓖麻毒素检测技术研究进展

蓖麻毒素是从蓖麻种子的胚乳中提取的一种核糖体失活蛋白。基于其潜在的威胁,建立快速、灵敏的蓖麻毒素检测技术受到人们的高度关注。根据蓖麻毒素的理化性质、免疫原性,已经建立了免疫荧光技术、夹心免疫PCR技术、免疫胶体金标记技术、蛋白芯片技术和生物传感器技术等用于检测蓖麻毒素。     

Structure-toxicity Relationship in Subunit Structure of Ricin D

The re-formation of the single disulfide bond which linked two polypeptide chains of ricin D was studied. Ricin D was reoxidized preferentially by the air-oxidation of its reduced polypeptide chains in a yield of 74% with the recovery of full toxicity. Furthermore ricin D was completely regenerated from its compound with p-chloromercuribenzoate. It seems reasonable to assume that the toxicity of ricin D arises from the quaternary structure of ricin D molecule.     

Binding of Lactose and Galactose to Native and Iodinated Ricin D

The binding of lactose and galactose to native and iodinated ricin D was investigated by equilibrium dialysis and ultraviolet difference spectroscopy. The results provided direct evidence that native ricin D has two independent saccharide binding sites with different affinities, of which the high-affinity (HA-) binding site is able to bind with both lactose and galactose while the low-affinity (LA-) binding site binds only with lactose. In contrast, the iodinated ricin D possesses only one binding site both for lactose and galactose with high affinity.

By UV-difference spectroscopic analysis we found that there is one tyrosyl residue at or near the HA-binding site in ricin D which may be involvled in binding with saccharide. This tyrosyl residue was not iodinated in the presence of lactose but was iodinated in the absence of lactose and was perturbed by an addition of lactose even after iodination.

From these results, it was inferred that the binding site abolished by the iodination is the LA-binding site and this may be due to the conformational alteration of the LA-binding site caused by the iodination of the tyrosyl residue(s) present near the LA-binding site.     

Primary Structure of lie Chain of Ricin D

The specific activities of three B₁₂-dependent enzymes in Rhizobium meliloti were compared in relation to morphological changes in the bacterium. The critical levels of ribonucleotide reductase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase seemed to be maintained, while the level of methionine synthase was probably insufficient for cell multiplication. A close relationship was observed between the methionine synthase level and morphological changes in the bacterium. The addition of folate with methionine to the cobalt-deficient medium did not have a positive effect on bacterial growth. A sufficient amount of tetrahydrofolate was detected in the cobalt-deficient elongated cells. These findings might suggest the important role of methionine synthase in cell multiplication, which was unpredictable from the methylfolate trap hypothesis.     

Ricin disturbs calcium homeostasis in the rabbit heart

Ricin, a toxic lectin from the castor bean, affects the cardiovascular system. Because calcium is very important in cardiotoxicity and cell intoxication, we studied the effects of ricin pretreatment to rabbits on basal intracellular calcium levels and calcium uptake and release from isolated papillary muscle, microsomes, and mitochondria. An increase in basal intracellular calcium levels was observed. Ricin pretreatment nearly doubled the intracellular-free Ca²⁺ concentration as measured by fura-2 fluorescence microscopy in isolated myocytes (p = 0.002). Ricin did not alter basal calcium efflux in isolated papillary muscles. However, ricin inhibited the NE-induced calcium efflux (expressed as fractional efflux ratios) in papillary muscles from rabbits receiving the minimum lethal dose of ricin at 25–35 minutes (p = 0.002 and 0.003, respectively). Ricin depressed basal calcium uptake into isolated papillary muscles at 5 minutes (mean ± SEM, μmol/g wet weight) (control: 3.68 ± 0.57; ricin: 2.31 ± 0.28, p = 0.045, n = 6). Ricin pretreatment significantly depressed calcium uptake into microsomes (mean ± SEM, μmol/g protein) (control: 9.9 ± 1.9; ricin: 3.1 ± 1.9, p = 0.025, n = 6). Calcium uptake into mitochondria was increased at the beginning (2 minutes, p = 0.048), but not thereafter. Thus, administration of ricin disturbed calcium homeostasis in the rabbit heart, which may be at least partially responsible for altering cardiac function and myocardial cell death. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Ricin A-chain conjugated with monoclonal anti-L1210 antibody

Summary In studies of antitumor antibody-cytotoxic agent conjugates as potential antitumor agents with improved tumor specificity, the toxic subunit A-chain of ricin was conjugated with a monoclonal antibody to a tumor-associated antigen expressed weakly on murine leukemia L1210 cells and strongly on L1210/GZL cells, a guanazole-resistant subline of L1210, employing N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio)propionate as cross-linking agent. The conjugate (anti-L1210 conjugate) exhibited a potent concentration-dependent cytotoxicity against cultured L1210/GZL cells, and inhibited cell growth at concentrations over 0.8 g/ml. The conjugate killed all L1210/GZL cells at a concentration of 100 g/ml. Neither nonimmune conjugate similarly prepared from mouse nonimmune IgG nor unconjugated anti-L1210 IgG alone showed cytotoxicity against L1210/GZL cells. When (BALB/c×DBA/2)F₁ mice inoculated with 1 × 10⁵ L1210/GZL cells were treated with IP injections of 27 g anti-L1210 conjugate 1 h and 5 days after tumor cell inoculation, a life-prolonging effect was observed. [Lifespan in treated animals as percentage of that in controls (T/C)=146%]. However, when the dose per injection was increased to 50 g per mouse, survival was the same as in the control group. Postmortem examination of mice that had been treated with 50 g anti-L1210 conjugate revealed lesions with necrosis and hemorrhage in the liver parenchyma and the intestinal epithelium, respectively. A similar toxic effect on the host mice was also observed with nonimmune conjugate.     

包有蓖麻毒蛋白的脂质体的制备,性质及毒性研究

以半乳糖神经酰胺（ｇａｌａｃｔｏｓｙｌｃｅｒａｍｉｄｅ,ＧＣ）为材料,采用冷冻干燥脱水再水化法（ＤＲＶ法）制成包裹有蓖麻毒蛋白的半乳糖神经酰胺脂质体（ｒｉｃｉｎＧＣＬｓ）并对其性质及体外细胞毒性和动物毒性做了研究,实验结果表明,ｒｉｃｉｎ－ＧＣＬｓ的最大包封率可达７４．１％,粒度分布主要在０．５～０．８μｍ之间,符合静脉注射液的标准,脂质体冻干粉在４℃储存近半年,粒度分布几乎没有变化,体外细胞毒性