Expression of Functional Ricin B Chain in Xenopus Oocytes

Abstract

The 5′ signal sequence and B chain coding region were excised from preproricin cDNA and fused in frame to generate prericin B chain cDNA. Transcripts were synthesized from the pre B chain cDNA in an in vitro system driven by T7 RNA polymerase. Pre B chain mRNA microinjected into Xenopus oocytes was expressed and the product was segregated into the oocyte endomembrane system, core glycosylated and the N–terminal signal peptide was removed. The expressed product was biologically active and could therefore bind to immobilized asialofetuin. When recombinant ricin B chain was reassociated with purified A chain, the intact ricin that was reconstituted had full cytotoxic activity.

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Richardson, P., Gilmartin, P., Colman, A. et al. Expression of Functional Ricin B Chain in Xenopus Oocytes. Nat Biotechnol 6, 565–570 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/nbt0588-565

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