Characterization of a cDNA encoding ricin E, a hybrid ricin-Ricinus communis agglutinin gene from the castor plant Ricinus communis

1987 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth F. Ladin ◽  
Elizabeth E. Murray ◽  
Amy C. Halling ◽  
Kevin C. Halling ◽  
Nanda Tilakaratne ◽  
...  
1988 ◽  
Vol 60 (02) ◽  
pp. 182-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Morio Aihara ◽  
Ken Tamura ◽  
Ryuko Kawarada ◽  
Keizou Okawa ◽  
Yutaka Yoshida

SummaryThe adhesion of human fixed washed platelets (FWP) to collagen was decreased after treatment with Serratia marcescens protease (SP), which removed 95% of the glycocalicin from platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) lb. However, the diminished adhesion of SP treated FWP to collagen could still be increased in the presence of purified von Willebrand factor (vWF). This ability of vWF to increase FWP adhesion to collagen is defined as collagen cofactor (CCo). The adhesion of FWP to collagen was not affected by a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to GP Ilb/IIIa (10E5), that inhibits ADP and collagen induced platelet aggregation. On the other hand, it was decreased by 50% by a MAb to GP lb (6D1), that inhibits ristocetin induced platelet aggregation. Adhesion of FWP in buffer to collagen was completely inhibited by Ricinus communis agglutinin I or concanavalin A, while Lens culinalis agglutinin and wheat germ agglutinin showed 50% inhibition. The FWP adhesion to collagen in the presence of vWF (normal plasma) was unaffected by MAbs to GP Ilb/IIIa (10E5, P2, HPL1) but was decreased to 32-38% by MAbs to GP lb (6D1, AN51, HPL11). A MAb to vWF (CLB-RAg 35), that inhibits ristocetin induced binding of vWF to platelets, decreased the CCo of normal plasma by 70%. The MAb, CLB-RAg 201, that inhibits the binding of vWF to collagen, completely inhibited the CCo of normal plasma. In conclusion, our data suggest that (1) GP lb has a partial role in FWP adhesion to collagen; (2) the binding of vWF to collagen is required for the expression of CCo; (3) CCo is partly mediated through GP lb; but (4) other platelet membrane protein(s) besides GP lb or GP Ilb/IIIa must also be involved in FWP-vWF-collagen interactions.


1986 ◽  
Vol 55 (03) ◽  
pp. 338-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
H Takahashi ◽  
W Tatewaki ◽  
M Hanano ◽  
R Nagayama ◽  
A Shibata

SummaryPlatelet-type von Willebrand’s disease (vWD) is a bleeding disorder characterized by a heightened interaction between platelets and von Willebrand factor (vWF) as the result of an intrinsic platelet abnormality (probably in GPIb). Platelet aggregability was nearly normal in response to thrombin, wheat germ agglutinin and Ricinus communis agglutinin in this disorder. Unmodified platelets showed no aggregation upon the addition of peanut agglutinin. Partially purified human vWF induced little aggregation of washed patient platelets, but the aggregation was greatly enhanced in the presence of plasma devoid of vWF. Monoclonal antibodies directed against GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa as well as EDTA completely inhibited vWF-induced aggregation. These results indicate that human vWF induces aggregation of platelet-type vWD platelets in the presence of divalent cations and some plasma cofactor(s), and that both GPIb and GPIIb/IIIa are involved in this aggregation.


Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Calvo ◽  
LM Pastor ◽  
S Bonet ◽  
E Pinart ◽  
M Ventura

Lectin histochemistry was used to perform in situ characterization of the glycoconjugates present in boar testis and epididymis. Thirteen horseradish peroxidase- or digoxigenin-labelled lectins were used in samples obtained from healthy fertile boars. The acrosomes of the spermatids were stained intensely by lectins with affinity for galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine residues, these being soybean, peanut and Ricinus communis agglutinins. Sertoli cells were stained selectively by Maackia ammurensis agglutinin. The lamina propria of seminiferous tubules showed the most intense staining with fucose-binding lectins. The Golgi area and the apical part of the principal cells of the epididymis were stained intensely with many lectins and their distribution was similar in the three zones of the epididymis. On the basis of lectin affinity, both testis and epididymis appear to have N- and O-linked glycoconjugates. Spermatozoa from different epididymal regions showed different expression of terminal galactose and N-acetyl-galactosamine. Sialic acid (specifically alpha2,3 neuraminic-5 acid) was probably incorporated into spermatozoa along the extratesticular ducts. These findings indicate that the development and maturation of boar spermatozoa are accompanied by changes in glycoconjugates. As some lectins stain cellular or extracellular compartments specifically, these lectins could be useful markers in histopathological evaluation of diseases of boar testis and epididymis.


Catalysts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Awais ◽  
Sa’ed A Musmar ◽  
Faryal Kabir ◽  
Iram Batool ◽  
Muhammad Asif Rasheed ◽  
...  

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel usually produced from vegetable oils and animal fats. This study investigates the extraction of oil and its conversion into biodiesel by base-catalyzed transesterification. Firstly, the effect of various solvents (methanol, n-hexane, chloroform, di-ethyl ether) on extraction of oil from non-edible crops, such as R. communis and M. azedarach, were examined. It was observed that a higher concentration of oil was obtained from R. communis (43.6%) as compared to M. azedarach (35.6%) by using methanol and n-hexane, respectively. The extracted oils were subjected to NaOH (1%) catalyzed transesterification by analyzing the effect of oil/methanol molar ratio (1:4, 1:6, 1:8 and 1:10) and varying temperature (20, 40, 60 and 80 °C) for 2.5 h of reaction time. M. azedarach yielded 88% and R. communis yielded 93% biodiesel in 1:6 and 1:8 molar concentrations at ambient temperature whereas, 60 °C was selected as an optimum temperature, giving 90% (M. azedarach) and 94% (R. communis) biodiesel. The extracted oil and biodiesel were characterized for various parameters and most of the properties fulfilled the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard biodiesel. The further characterization of fatty acids was done by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS) and oleic acid was found to be dominant in M. azedarach (61.5%) and R. communis contained ricinoleic acid (75.53%). Furthermore, the functional groups were analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The results suggested that both of the oils are easily available and can be used for commercial biodiesel production at a cost-effective scale.


1993 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 345-349
Author(s):  
Shuji NIIKAWA ◽  
Akira HARA ◽  
Shinichi SHIRAKAMI ◽  
Wei ZHANG ◽  
Noboru SAKAI ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELIZABETE S. SEKINE ◽  
VAGNER A.A. TOLEDO ◽  
MARCELO G. CAXAMBU ◽  
SUZANE CHMURA ◽  
ELIZA H. TAKASHIBA ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to carry out a survey of the flora with potential for beekeeping in the counties of Ubiratã and Nova Aurora-PR through the collection of plants and pollen analyses in honey samples collected monthly. 208 species of plants were recorded, distributed in 66 families. The families that showed the major richness of pollen types were: Asteraceae, Myrtaceae and Solanaceae. Approximately 80 pollen types were found in honey samples, most of them were characterized as heterofloral. Cultivated plants, such as Glycine max (soybean) and Eucalyptus spp., were representative in some months of the year. Exotic species, such as Ricinus communis and Melia azedarach, were also frequent. However, over than 50% of the pollen types belong to native species of the region, such as Schinus terebinthifolius, Baccharis spp. Alchornea triplinervia, Parapiptadenia rigida, Hexaclamys edulis, Zanthoxylum sp. and Serjania spp., indicating the importance of the native vegetation for the survival of the colonies.


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