Ricin - an Introduction

A short introduction to Ricin, a heterodimeric protein from the Castor bean. Music by Kevin MacLeod.
Chain A is toxic, but without chain B it doesn't attach to cells. Many plants have chain A but no chain B. Chain B is a lectin which recognises carbohydrate molecules on the surface of cells, and/or provides carbohydrates for the cell receptors to bind to. Once inside the cell a single disulphide (S-S) bond is cleaved, releasing chain A and revealing the active site. Chain A then renders the ribosome (protein making bit) inactive and cell death ensues.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• protein function
• ricin
• poison
• castor bean
• lectin
• Georgi Markov
• umbrella murder
• asassin
• protein
• chemistry
• biology
• scicomm
• toxin
• science communication
• protein modelling
• RIP protein
• ribosome inactivating protein
• Kevin
• MacLeod
• how ricin works