title: Ribosome-inactivating proteins: from plant defense to tumor attack.
abstract: Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are EC3.2.32.22 N-glycosidases that recognize a universally conserved stem-loop structure in 23S/25S/28S rRNA, depurinating a single adenine (A4324 in rat) and irreversibly blocking protein translation, leading finally to cell death of intoxicated mammalian cells. Ricin, the plant RIP prototype that comprises a catalytic A subunit linked to a galactose-binding lectin B subunit to allow cell surface binding and toxin entry in most mammalian cells, shows a potency in the picomolar range. The most promising way to exploit plant RIPs as weapons against cancer cells is either by designing molecules in which the toxic domains are linked to selective tumor targeting domains or directly delivered as suicide genes for cancer gene therapy. Here, we will provide a comprehensive picture of plant RIPs and discuss successful designs and features of chimeric molecules having therapeutic potential.
authors: Istituto di Genetica Vegetale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Bari, Italy. maddalena.devirgilio@igv.cnr.it
authors: Maddalena
authors: M
authors: de Virgilio
authors: Alessio
authors: A
authors: Lombardi
authors: Rocco
authors: R
authors: Caliandro
authors: Maria Serena
authors: MS
authors: Fabbrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D000922:Immunotoxins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D051381:Rats; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012276:Ricin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020539:Sequence Analysis, Protein
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000922:Immunotoxins; D010940:Plant Proteins; D012276:Ricin; D054788:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins