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RIBOSOME-INACTIVATING PROTEINS: A Plant Perspective.
Kirsten Nielsen1, Rebecca S Boston
1Department of Botany, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7612; e-mail: knielse@unity.ncsu.edu; boston@unity.ncsu.edu
Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology
|May 5, 2001
Summary
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant enzymes that halt protein synthesis by damaging ribosomal RNA. Their multifaceted roles in plant defense and potential effects on mammalian cells require further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Plant Science
Background:
- Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are N-glycosidases targeting the alpha-sarcin loop of large ribosomal RNAs.
- RIPs inhibit protein synthesis by depurinating rRNA, a conserved mechanism across diverse plant genera and tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the broader enzymatic activities of RIPs beyond rRNA.
- To investigate the physiological impacts of RIPs on mammalian cells and their role in plant defense mechanisms.
- To integrate genetic, genomic, molecular, and structural approaches for a comprehensive understanding of RIP functions.
Main Methods:
- Enzymatic assays to assess RIP activity on various nucleic acid targets.
- Cell-based assays to evaluate the physiological effects of RIPs on mammalian cells.
- Analysis of in vitro and transgenic plant data for antiviral, antifungal, and insecticidal properties.
Main Results:
- RIPs exhibit enzymatic activity beyond rRNA, including depurination and nucleic acid scission of other targets.
- RIPs have been implicated in apoptotic pathways in mammalian cells.
- RIPs demonstrate antiviral, antifungal, and insecticidal properties in plants.
Conclusions:
- RIPs possess complex biological roles extending beyond ribosome inactivation.
- Further research integrating multiple scientific disciplines is crucial for elucidating the full physiological functions of these multifunctional plant proteins.