Differential abilities of the ribosome inactivating proteins luffaculin, luffins and momorcochin to induce abnormalities in developing mouse embryos in vitro

Abstract

1. Possible teratogenic activity in the ribosome inactivating proteins luffaculin, luffin-a, luffin-b and momorcochin was tested using cultured mouse embryos. 2. At a dosage of 200 μg/ml culture medium, luffin-a and momorcochin did not affect organogenesis in embryos. 3. Luffin-b at a dosage of 100 μg/ml brought about decreases in embryo somite number and axial length and induced defects in yolk sac circulation, body axis, optic placodes, branchial apparatus, forelimb buds and cranial neural tube. 4. Luffaculin at a dosage of 100 μg/ml caused only reductions in embryo somite number and axial length, but at 200 μg/ml produced all of the aforementioned teratogenic effects and defects in otic placodes. 5. The data indicate that ribosome inactivating proteins differ in their potencies as teratogens.