Ricin toxin hits a retrograde roadblock.

To inhibit protein synthesis and induce cell death, plant ricin toxin and bacterial Shiga toxins enter the cell through the endocytic and retrograde secretory pathways. Stechmann et al. (2010) now identify two small-molecule inhibitors that selectively block endosome-to-Golgi retrieval of ricin and Shiga toxins and protect mice from ricin's deadly effects. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.