title: Cytotoxicity of pokeweed antiviral protein.
abstract: Pokeweed antiviral protein, a plant protein which inactivates eukaryotic ribosomes, was found to be cytotoxic to both HeLa and Vero cells. Cellular protein synthesis was inhibited by exposure of the cells to microM concentrations of the antiviral protein for 24 h periods or longer. The extent of the inhibition of cellular protein synthesis was dependent upon the time of exposure to pokeweed antiviral protein and was partially reversed by washing the cells at various times prior to the measurement of protein synthesis. The antiviral protein was also observed to bind nonspecifically to cells at both 4 degrees and 34 degrees C. The data indicate that the pokeweed antiviral protein is capable of slowly entering mammalian cells which results in the inhibition cellular protein synthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos 78666.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Aron
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Irvin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003603:Cytotoxins; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D014709:Vero Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003603:Cytotoxins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; C024275:pokeweed antiviral protein