CD7 & saporin

This gene encodes a transmembrane protein which is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily. This protein is found on thymocytes and mature T cells. It plays an essential role in T-cell interactions and also in T-cell/B-cell interaction during early lymphoid development.

Saporin is a so-called ribosome inactivating protein (RIP), due to its N-glycosidase activity, from the seeds of Saponaria officinalis (common name: soapwort).Saporin depurinate the ribosomal RNA in a specific position; rendering the large subunit of ribosomes unable to bind the elongation factors. The consequent arrest of protein synthesis is responsible for the cytotoxicity.