Antibody-ricin conjugates: a method of linkage which blocks the galactose binding site of ricin

Conjugates of the monoclonal antibody anti-Thy 1:1 (OX7) and ricin have been constructed, using a thioether bond, such that the ricin no longer can bind Sepharose or asialofetuin. These conjugates were found to be very toxic to Thy 1:1 expressing AKR-A cells whereas they showed little toxicity to Thy 1:2 expressing EL4 cells. By comparison, OX7-ricin conjugates which retained galactose-binding capability were still highly toxic to EL4 cells and this toxicity was antagonized by lactose. A second conjugate made from the W3/25 monoclonal antibody was constructed. The W3/25-ricin conjugate which had lost Sepharose-binding capacity was toxic to W3/25 antigen-expressing rat T-leukaemia cells. This is in sharp contrast to the disulphide linked W3/25-ricin A-chain conjugate which is totally inactive, suggesting that the role of the B-chain in membrane transport of the A-chain into the cytosol is independent of galactose recognition.