AFFINITY OF TETRITOXIN TO ANIMAL PROTEIN

Tetritoxin is a p-benzoquinoid insect pest residue in infested foodstuffs. Secreted by beetles TENEBRIONIDAE, Tribolium spp., the water soluble yellow toxin transforms upon contact with plant and animal protein to insoluble colored protein complexes exhibiting strong polar binding. Polarographic evidence on the mechanism of the toxin incorporation in wheat flour, wool fibers, and animal tissue is presented. The possible role of quinoid protein conjugates in quinone carcinogenesis is discussed. Further evidence of carcinogenic prop erties of tetritoxin in rats is presented.