Elementary plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology (2+1)

Toxic proteins

• Some of the proteins are toxic in nature.
  
• Ricin present in castor bean is extremely toxic to higher animals in very small amounts.
• Enzyme inhibitors such as trypsin inhibitor bind to digestive enzyme and prevent the availability of the protein.
• Lectin, a toxic protein present in legumes, agglutinates red blood cells.
  
• A bacterial toxin causes cholera, which is a protein. Snake venom is protein in nature.