title: Ribosome inactivating proteins of plants.
abstract: Many plant tissues produce single chain proteins which can enzymatically remove a specific adenine residue from ribosomal RNA. Although these proteins are potently toxic to isolated ribosomes, they are non-toxic to intact cells, being unable to gain access to their ribosomal substrate. In certain plants however, the gene for the ribosome inactivating protein has fused with a gene encoding a galactose-specific lectin. This generates heterodimeric proteins which can bind to and enter target cells, and which are among the most potent cytotoxins known.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hartley
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001483:Base Sequence; D003603:Cytotoxins; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012276:Ricin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D037102:Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012276:Ricin