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Structure, function and applications of ricin and related cytotoxic proteins

  • Chapter
Biosynthesis and Manipulation of Plant Products

Part of the book series: Plant Biotechnology Series ((PBS))

Abstract

Ricin is the best known example of a family of proteins known as ribosome-inactivating proteins or RIPs. These are widely distributed in Angiosperms and also occur in several species of fungi and bacteria. A commonly used criterion for the inclusion of proteins within this group is that they catalytically and irreversibly inactivate the 60S subunit of eukaryotic ribosomes, rendering it incapable of binding elongation factor 2 (Stirpe and Barbieri, 1986). Although this definition was proposed before the nature of the RIP-mediated modifications to ribosomes were known, it remains a useful working definition but should be broadened to take into account the recent finding that some RIPs are also active on prokaryotic ribosomes. Protein toxins which act by the catalytic inactivation of protein synthesis accessory factors such as diphtheria toxin and Pseudomonas exotoxin are not included within this group.

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Authors
  1. M. R. Hartley
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  2. J. M. Lord
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  1. Department of Physiology and Environmental Science, University of Nottingham, UK

    Don Grierson B.Sc., Ph.D., C.Biol., F.I.Biol. (Professor of Plant Physiology and Head of ARFC Research Group in Plant Gene Regulation) (Professor of Plant Physiology and Head of ARFC Research Group in Plant Gene Regulation)

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© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Hartley, M.R., Lord, J.M. (1993). Structure, function and applications of ricin and related cytotoxic proteins. In: Grierson, D. (eds) Biosynthesis and Manipulation of Plant Products. Plant Biotechnology Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2142-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2142-2_6

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