title: Partial purification and characterization of RNase P from human peripheral lymphocytes.
abstract: Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is ubiquitous and essential Mg(2+)-dependent endoribonuclease that catalyzes the 5'-maturation of transfer RNAs. RNase P and the ribosome are so far the only ribozymes known to be conserved in all kingdoms of life. Eukaryotic RNase P activity has been detected in nuclei, mitochondria and chloroplasts and demonstrates great variability in sequence and subunit composition. In the last few years we have developed methodologies and pursued projects addressing the occurrence, distribution and the potential physiological role of RNase P in human epidermal keratinocytes. In view of the vital importance of lymphocytes for an effective immune system and their successful application after transfection with RNase P-associated external guide sequences in gene therapy, we concerned ourselves with the isolation and characterization of RNase P of peripheral human lymphocytes. We developed a method described herein, that will enable the study of the possible involvement of this ribozyme in the pathogenetic mechanisms of diverse autoimmune, inflammatory and neoplastic cutaneous disorders and may facilitate the further development of RNase P-based technology for gene therapy of infectious and neoplastic dermatoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vourekas
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vryzaki
authors.forename: Chrisavgi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toumpeki
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stamatopoulou
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monastirli
authors.forename: Dionysios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsambaos
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drainas
mesh_terms: D001345:Autoradiography; D002845:Chromatography / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005601:Framycetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D043262:Ribonuclease P / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005601:Framycetin; D043262:Ribonuclease P