Dictionary of Biological Psychology
A cytotoxic plant LECTIN. After intracerebral MICROINJECTION, saporin is taken up by axons and moved by RETROGRADE TRANSPORT to the cell body, causing cell death.
Saporin can CONJUGATE to antibodies that target cell surface molecules to provide a selective IMMUNOTOXIN for making a selective LESION of specific neuronal or glial populations in the brain. Linked to the low-affinity p75 NERVE GROWTH FACTOR receptor or to the NORADRENERGIC enzyme DOPAMINE BETA HYDROXYLASE it provides an effective and selective toxin for CHOLINERGIC neurons in the BASAL FOREBRAIN (but not clsewhere) and noradrenaline neurons, respectively.
Reference
Wiley R.G. (1992) Neural lesioning with ribosome-inactivating proteins: suicide transport and immunolesioning. Trends in Neuroscience 15:285–290.
STEPHEN B.DUNNETT
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