title: Recent advances in trichosanthin, a ribosome-inactivating protein with multiple pharmacological properties.
abstract: Trichosanthin (TCS), a ribosome-inactivating protein extracted from the root tuber of Chinese medicinal herb Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz, has multiple pharmacological properties including abortifacient, anti-tumor and anti-HIV. It is traditionally used to induce abortion but its antigenicity and short plasma half-life have limited the repeated clinical administration. In this review, work to locating antigenic sites and prolonging plasma half-life are discussed. Studies on structure-function relationship and mechanism of cell entry are also covered. Recently, TCS has been found to induce apoptosis, enhance the action of chemokines and inhibit HIV-1 integrase. These findings give new insights on the pharmacological properties of TCS and other members of ribosome-inactivating proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Protein Science and Crystallography, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong, China. pcshaw@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Pang-Chui
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Ka-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kam-Bo
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000502:physiology; D003911:Dextrans / Q000378:metabolism; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D006207:Half-Life; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S / Q000378:metabolism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015978:Trichosanthin / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003911:Dextrans; D000939:Epitopes; D012339:RNA, Ribosomal, 28S; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D015978:Trichosanthin