Ricin: Structure and function
From Proteopedia
(Difference between revisions)
(Undo revision 3551007 by Ajla Pandzic (Talk)) |
|||
| Line 4: | Line 4: | ||
== Toxicity == | == Toxicity == | ||
| - | We know Ricin to be a very toxic protein based on its interaction with mammals, but in terms of plants, it doesn’t show to have much effect. Due to the cell structure of a plant cell, it contains a cell wall that protects the cell from external threats, including Ricin. Ricin is not able to penetrate the plant cell wall and this is why we see it take on its toxic effects in animal cells instead. When it comes to ricin toxicity in mammals, each species has varying terms of sensitivity to this protein. Some species may experience lethal effects due to Ricin while others deem it a little inconvenience. The severity of Ricin will also depend on the way an individual was exposed to it. | ||
| - | Ricin exposure is very unlikely to be accidental and you shouldn’t worry about getting Ricin Poisoning unless you are consuming pure castor beans. Most cases of Ricin Poisoning are due to the result of mishandling the protein after its extraction to make castor oil. The modes of exposure can range from inhalation to ingestion, excluding dermal absorption. After testing ran on mice, the Ricin protein was determined to be too molecularly large to penetrate the epidermis. Due to its size, it does have detrimental effects when ingested or inhaled. Inhaling this substance is one of the most lethal ways of exposing the body to Ricin, as a lethal dose is roughly only around 5 micrograms per kilogram. In terms of ingestion, the GI tract has mechanisms to degrade this protein after it is consumed. This means that it has a less severe effect than inhalation and its lethal dose comes to about 20 milligrams per kilogram. Severity may also rely on how the Ricin was consumed. Swallowing an entire castor bean results in a reduced risk of ricin poisoning as the shell of the bean is hard to break down. Swallowing crushed seeds is much more toxic than those whose shell is still intact. | ||
== Structure == | == Structure == | ||
Revision as of 16:55, 26 April 2022
Ricin
| |||||||||||
References
- ↑ Hanson, R. M., Prilusky, J., Renjian, Z., Nakane, T. and Sussman, J. L. (2013), JSmol and the Next-Generation Web-Based Representation of 3D Molecular Structure as Applied to Proteopedia. Isr. J. Chem., 53:207-216. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijch.201300024
- ↑ Herraez A. Biomolecules in the computer: Jmol to the rescue. Biochem Mol Biol Educ. 2006 Jul;34(4):255-61. doi: 10.1002/bmb.2006.494034042644. PMID:21638687 doi:10.1002/bmb.2006.494034042644
