*Review* **Intracellular Transport and Cytotoxicity of the Protein Toxin Ricin**

#### **Natalia Sowa-Rogozi ´nska 1, Hanna Sominka 1, Jowita Nowakowska-Gołacka 1, Kirsten Sandvig 2,3 and Monika Słomi ´nska-Wojewódzka 1,\***


Received: 22 May 2019; Accepted: 14 June 2019; Published: 18 June 2019

**Abstract:** Ricin can be isolated from the seeds of the castor bean plant (*Ricinus communis*). It belongs to the ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) family of toxins classified as a bio-threat agen<sup>t</sup> due to its high toxicity, stability and availability. Ricin is a typical A-B toxin consisting of a single enzymatic A subunit (RTA) and a binding B subunit (RTB) joined by a single disulfide bond. RTA possesses an RNA N-glycosidase activity; it cleaves ribosomal RNA leading to the inhibition of protein synthesis. However, the mechanism of ricin-mediated cell death is quite complex, as a growing number of studies demonstrate that the inhibition of protein synthesis is not always correlated with long term ricin toxicity. To exert its cytotoxic effect, ricin A-chain has to be transported to the cytosol of the host cell. This translocation is preceded by endocytic uptake of the toxin and retrograde traffic through the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this article, we describe intracellular trafficking of ricin with particular emphasis on host cell factors that facilitate this transport and contribute to ricin cytotoxicity in mammalian and yeas<sup>t</sup> cells. The current understanding of the mechanisms of ricin-mediated cell death is discussed as well. We also comment on recent reports presenting medical applications for ricin and progress associated with the development of vaccines against this toxin.

**Keywords:** ricin; protein synthesis inhibition; apoptosis

**Key Contribution:** This review summarizes the current knowledge of ricin intracellular transport and mechanisms of its cytotoxicity.
