Abstract
Abrin, one of most potent toxins known to man, is derived from the rosary pea (jequirity pea), Abrus precatorius and is a potential bioterror weapon. The temperature and pH stability of abrin was evaluated with an in vitro cell free translation (CFT) assay, a Vero cell culture cytotoxicity assay, and an in vivo mouse bioassay. pH treatment of abrin had no detrimental effect on its stability and toxicity as seen either in vitro or in vivo. Abrin exposure to increasing temperatures did not completely abrogate protein translation. In both the cell culture cytotoxicity model and the mouse bioassay, abrin’s toxic effects were completely abrogated if the toxin was exposed to temperatures of 74 °C or higher. In the cell culture model, 63 °C-treated abrin had a 30% reduction in cytotoxicity which was validated in the in vivo mouse bioassay with all mice dying but with a slight time-to-death delay as compared to the non-treated abrin control. Since temperature inactivation did not affect abrin’s ability to inhibit protein synthesis (A-chain), we hypothesize that high temperature treatment affected abrin’s ability to bind to cellular receptors (affecting B-chain). Our results confirm the absolute need to validate in vitro cytotoxicity assays with in vivo mouse bioassays.
Highlights
Abrus precatorius, native to India as well as tropical/subtropical regions, was originally introduced to Florida and the Caribbean [1,2] but has established itself in many parts of the southeasternUnited States [3]
We wanted to determine the most effective parameters to use against abrin should bioterror attacks occur on our food supply
The heat-stability of abrin in this study is similar to previous published data that suggest that batch pasteurization at 85 ◦ C for 30 min is required to completely inactivate ricin and abrin activity in milk when measured by ELISA [22]
Summary
Native to India as well as tropical/subtropical regions, was originally introduced to Florida and the Caribbean [1,2] but has established itself in many parts of the southeasternUnited States [3]. The seeds of A. precatorius, known as jequirity, rosary pea, and Crab’s Eye, contain one of the most potent toxins in the world, abrin. These seeds have traditionally been made into bracelets and necklaces for use as jewelry as well as rosary beads. Abrin and ricin are both members of the Type II family of ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIP) that inhibit eukaryotic protein synthesis leading to apoptosis and cell death. Abrin consists of an A-chain of ≈30 kDa and a B-chain of ≈33 kDa linked together by a single disulfide bond.
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