We report for the first time the efficient use of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) for extraction of ricin to analytical purposes, followed by the combined use of sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and MALDI-TOF MS/MS method. That has provided a fast and unambiguous method of ricin identification for in real cases of forensic investigation of suspected samples. Additionally, MALDI-TOF MS was applied to characterize the presence and the toxic activity of ricin in irradiated samples. Samples containing ricin were subjected to ASE, irradiated with different dosages of gamma radiation, and analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS for verification of the intact protein signal. For identification purposes, samples were previously subjected to SDS-PAGE, for purification and separation of the chains, followed by digestion with trypsin, and analysis by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The results were confirmed by verification of the amino acid sequences of some selected peptides by MALDI-TOF MS/MS. The samples residual toxic activity was evaluated through incubation with a DNA substrate, to simulate the attack by ricin, followed by MALDI-TOF MS/MS analyses.

• Klíčová slova
• CBRN defense, MALDI-TOF MS, biological weapons, chemical weapons, ricin,
• MeSH
• aceton chemie   MeSH
• elektroforéza v polyakrylamidovém gelu MeSH
• hexany chemie   MeSH
• peptidy analýza   chemie   MeSH
• ricin analýza   chemie   MeSH
• rozpouštědla chemie   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• aceton MeSH
• hexany MeSH
• n-hexane MeSH Prohlížeč
• peptidy MeSH
• ricin MeSH
• rozpouštědla MeSH

Biological toxins are a heterogeneous group of compounds that share commonalities with biological and chemical agents. Among them, protein toxins represent a considerable, diverse set. They cover a broad range of molecular weights from less than 1000 Da to more than 150 kDa. This review aims to compare conventional detection methods of protein toxins such as in vitro bioassays with proteomic methods, including immunoassays and mass spectrometry-based techniques and their combination. Special emphasis is given to toxins falling into a group of selected agents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, such as Staphylococcal enterotoxins, Bacillus anthracis toxins, Clostridium botulinum toxins, Clostridium perfringens epsilon toxin, ricin from Ricinus communis, Abrin from Abrus precatorius or control of trade in dual-use items in the European Union, including lesser known protein toxins such as Viscumin from Viscum album. The analysis of protein toxins and monitoring for biological threats, i.e., the deliberate spread of infectious microorganisms or toxins through water, food, or the air, requires rapid and reliable methods for the early identification of these agents.

• Klíčová slova
• analytical methods, bio-terrorism, protein toxins, proteomic,
• MeSH
• bakteriální proteiny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• biologické toxiny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• proteomika metody   MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• bakteriální proteiny MeSH
• biologické toxiny MeSH
• rostlinné proteiny MeSH