title: Ribosome inactivating proteins and apoptosis.
abstract: Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are protein toxins that are of plant or microbial origin that inhibit protein synthesis by inactivating ribosomes. Recent studies suggest that RIPs are also capable of inducing cell death by apoptosis. Though many reports are available on cell death induced by RIPs, the mechanism involved is not well studied. Comparison of pathways of apoptosis and cellular events induced by various RIPs suggests a central role played by mitochondria, probably acting as an integrator of cellular stress and cell death. The purpose of this review is to compare the various apoptotic pathways that may be involved and propose a general pathway in RIP-induced cell death.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biophysics Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India.
authors.forename: Sriram
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Narayanan
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Surendranath
authors.forename: Namrata
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bora
authors.forename: Avadhesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surolia
authors.forename: Anjali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Karande
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins