We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




French Team Identifies Antidote for Ricin Toxin

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 25 May 2010
Print article
Image: Molecular model of the toxic protein ricin (Photo courtesy Laguna Design).
Image: Molecular model of the toxic protein ricin (Photo courtesy Laguna Design).
A large team of French researchers has discovered two low molecular weight compounds that block the action of ricin, a highly toxic protein often mentioned as a possible bioterror weapon.

Ricin comprises two subunits, the A-chain and the B-chain, which are linked by a disulphide bond. The B-chain facilitates cell entry and intracellular transport, and it is reductively cleaved to free the A-chain, which inactivates ribosomes and shuts down protein synthesis.

A French team, headed by investigators at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Paris, France) used a cell-based assay system to screen over 16,000 compounds for the ability to block the intracellular transport of ricin toxins.

They reported in the April 16, 2010, online edition of the journal Cell that they had identified two compounds, Retro-1 and Retro-2 that were able to inhibit the retrograde transport route of ricin from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum. Unlike other compounds that are known to block retrograde transport, Retro-1 and Retro-2 did not affect other intracellular trafficking and did not show any toxicity.

In experiments in mice, Retro-2 was shown to block the activity of ricin, if it were given prior to the toxin. It is expected that these compounds should also inhibit other toxic proteins such as the Shiga-like toxins produced by pathogens such as E. coli, Shigella, and cholera.

Related Links:

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique


Gold Member
Chagas Disease Test
CHAGAS Cassette
Verification Panels for Assay Development & QC
Seroconversion Panels
New
Pipet Controller
Stripettor Pro
New
Ultra-Low Temperature Freezer
iUF118-GX

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: QIP-MS could predict and detect myeloma relapse earlier compared to currently used techniques (Photo courtesy of Adobe Stock)

Mass Spectrometry-Based Monitoring Technique to Predict and Identify Early Myeloma Relapse

Myeloma, a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow, is currently incurable, though many patients can live for over 10 years after diagnosis. However, around 1 in 5 individuals with myeloma have a high-risk... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The cancer stem cell test can accurately choose more effective treatments (Photo courtesy of University of Cincinnati)

Stem Cell Test Predicts Treatment Outcome for Patients with Platinum-Resistant Ovarian Cancer

Epithelial ovarian cancer frequently responds to chemotherapy initially, but eventually, the tumor develops resistance to the therapy, leading to regrowth. This resistance is partially due to the activation... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The HIV-1 self-testing chip will be capable of selectively detecting HIV in whole blood samples (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

Disposable Microchip Technology Could Selectively Detect HIV in Whole Blood Samples

As of the end of 2023, approximately 40 million people globally were living with HIV, and around 630,000 individuals died from AIDS-related illnesses that same year. Despite a substantial decline in deaths... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The collaboration aims to leverage Oxford Nanopore\'s sequencing platform and Cepheid\'s GeneXpert system to advance the field of sequencing for infectious diseases (Photo courtesy of Cepheid)

Cepheid and Oxford Nanopore Technologies Partner on Advancing Automated Sequencing-Based Solutions

Cepheid (Sunnyvale, CA, USA), a leading molecular diagnostics company, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies (Oxford, UK), the company behind a new generation of sequencing-based molecular analysis technologies,... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.