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. 1992 Jun 1;89(11):4869–4873. doi: 10.1073/pnas.89.11.4869

Determination by systematic deletion of the amino acids essential for catalysis by ricin A chain.

K N Morris 1, I G Wool 1
PMCID: PMC49189  PMID: 1594586

Abstract

The A chain of ricin is a RNA N-glycosidase that inactivates ribosomes by depurination of a single adenosine in 28S rRNA. Of the 267 amino acids in the protein, 222 (83%) could be deleted from one or another of 74 mutants without loss of the capacity of the protein to recognize a single nucleotide from among the 7000 in ribosomes or to catalyze hydrolysis.

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Selected References

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