title: Induction of apoptosis by a ribosome-inactivating protein from Agrostemma githago is associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein expression.
abstract: Agrostin is a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) isolated from the seeds of Agrostemma githago. 3[H]-thymidine incorporation in human leukemic HL-60 cells was significantly reduced after incubation with agrostin showing that the RIP was inhibitory on the cell proliferation. Results from flow cytometric studies illustrated that apoptosis was induced by agrostin, which was associated with activation of endonucleases and DNA fragmentation of the leukemic cells. Anti-apoptotic bcl-2 protein level was also reduced by agrostin showing that the associated apoptotic pathway might involve down-regulation of the intracellular bcl-2 protein level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China. chimingchiu@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Ooi
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D017302:Annexins / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D018922:HL-60 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017302:Annexins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D010940:Plant Proteins; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D054790:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2; C459705:agrostin protein, Agrostemma; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D013936:Thymidine