Volkensin is a galactose specific lectin that can inhibit protein synthesis in whole cells and in cell-free lysates.
Although very similar in composition, volkensin contains more cysteine residues and more than twice as much sugar than modeccin, due to high content of galactose and mannose.
[3] From gene sequencing analysis, volkensin was found to be coded by 1569-bp ORF, that is 523 amino acid residues without introns.
[3] Volkensin, and toxins alike are studied to understand protein entry into the cell and many have been found to have antitumor applicability.
Rats that have been administered lower doses died within several days and showed wax-like peritoneal fat, which indicated the formation of a pancreatic lesion.