Methods to Characterize Ricin for the Development of Reference Materials

Published

July 1, 2006

Author(s)

Sung Kim, Diane K. Hancock, Lili Wang, Kenneth D. Cole, Prasad T. Reddy

Abstract

Ricin is an abundant protein from the castor bean plant Ricinus communis. Because of its high toxicity and the simplicity of producing mass quantities, ricin is considered a biological terrorism agent. We have characterized ricin extensively with a view to develop Reference Materials that could be used to test and calibrate detection devices. The characterization of ricin includes: 1) purity test of a commercial batch of ricin using electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels, 2) biological activity assay by measuring its ability to inhibit protein synthesis, 3) quantitation of protein concentration by amino acid analysis, 4) detection of ricin by an immunoassay using a flow cytometer, and 5) detection of ricin genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction using nine different primer sets.

Citation

Journal of Research (NIST JRES) -

Volume

111

Issue

4

NIST Pub Series

Journal of Research (NIST JRES)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

bioterrorism agent, castor bean plant, reference material, ricin toxin

Citation

Kim, S. , Hancock, D. , Wang, L. , Cole, K. and Reddy, P. (2006), Methods to Characterize Ricin for the Development of Reference Materials, Journal of Research (NIST JRES), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed October 11, 2025)