SUMMARY
Abrin, ricin, viscumin, modeccin, and volkensin are very potent toxins derived from plants. They are
glycoproteins composed of two polypeptide chains linked by a disulphide bridge. The A-chain is the
enzymatic toxic moiety and B-chain is responsible for bonding to the target cell and internalization
of toxin. The toxic part of the toxin molecule removes an adenine from a specific adenosine residue
in ribosomal RNA and block proteosynthesis. That is the reason of extreme toxicity of these
compounds and their capacity to be used as biological warfare agents or terrorist weapon. Therefore
all these compounds are in the schedules of controlled biological agents and toxins. Contrariwise,
plant ribosome-inactivating proteins are studied intensive as possible chemotherapeutic agents.
KEY WORDS
plant toxic proteins; ribosome inactivating proteins; abrin; ricin; modeccin; viscumin; volkensin; warfare; medicine
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