Biological activity of recombinant Ricinus communis agglutinin A chain produced in Escherichia coli.

DNA encoding Ricinus communis agglutinin A chain was ligated into the E. coli expression vector pDS 5/3. Induced E. coli 71.18 cells which had been transformed with this plasmid express Ricinus communis agglutinin A chain in a soluble and biologically active form. Recombinant Ricinus communis agglutinin A chain had ribosomal RNA N-glycosidase activity and was approximately 10-fold less active than ricin A chain in a cell-free protein synthesis inhibition assay.