Abstract
Many plants produce enzymes with N-glycosidase activity, also known as Ribosome Inactivating Proteins. These proteins remove a specific adenine residue from the ribosomal RNA (28S in eukaryotes) inducing the block of pro- tein synthesis by inhibiting the binding of the Elongation Factor 2. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic ribosomes (with dif- ferent sensitivity) can irreversibly be damaged by the action of these enzymes, suggesting their use as cytotoxic drugs. In fact several applications of targeted N-glycosidases have been developed (i.e. immunotoxins) for the treatment of human diseases such as leukaemia, but biotechnological development has furthermore suggested new applications of targeted N- glycosidases (i.e. Ig192-saporin) that are now used as powerful tools for cell biology research. The high number of en- zymes available and the possibility to express these proteins as recombinant products, allow to predict new formulations and applications discussed in this paper starting from the example of the model toxins ricin and saporin.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
