Comparative Study of Interaction of Two Type Ii Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins And Their A-Chains With Model Membrane

Both cinnamomin and ricin are type II ribosome-inactivating proteins. Cinnamomin is less cytotoxic compared with ricin. In order to clarify the mechanism of their different cytotoxicities, the interaction of cinnamomin and its A-chain with model membrane was investigated and compared with that of ricin and its A-chain. It was revealed that cinnamomin is less effective than ricin in interacting with model membrane. Cinnamomin A-chain interacts with model membrane much less violently than ricin Achain. The differences in the interaction of cinnamomin, ricin or their A-chains with model membrane might at least in part indicate the different cytotoxicity between cinnamomin and ricin.