Special Issue "Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins"

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Miguel Ferreras
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, E-47011 Valladolid, Spain
Interests: ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs); immunotoxins; protein synthesis inhibition; ribotoxins; structure–activity relationship
Prof. Dr. Lucía Citores
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Valladolid, E-47011 Valladolid, Spain
Interests: ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs); immunotoxins; protein synthesis inhibition; ribotoxins; protein translocation; intracellular transport; apoptosis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are rRNA N-glycosylases (EC 3.2.2.22) isolated mainly from plants and some bacteria that specifically catalyze the hydrolysis of the second N-glycosidic bond from the GAGA tetraloop located in the Sarcin Ricin Loop (SRL) of the large ribosomal RNA. Because the SRL is crucial for anchoring the elongation factors on the ribosome, depurination causes the irreversible inactivation of ribosomes. In addition, RIPs usually display other enzymatic activities, being the most relevant their polynucleotide:adenosine glycosylase activity on all kinds of nucleic acids. RIPs have been classified into two types depending on the presence (type 2 RIPs) or the absence (type 1 RIPs) of a lectin chain (B chain). The presence of the B chain may turn type 2 RIPs into powerful toxins, such as ricin or abrin. Regardless, despite the absence of the B chain, type 1 RIPs, at higher concentrations, are also able to enter into cells and display toxicity to cells and animals.

The exact biological role that RIPs play remains unknown, but it is thought to represent a defense mechanism of a plant against pathogens and predators.

As a consequence of their enzymatic action, RIPs display several biological activities, including antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antifeedant, and antiproliferative activities, which may be relevant to their functions and biotechnological applications.

The most promising applications of RIPs in experimental medicine, especially in anticancer therapy, are related to their use as a component of immunotoxins, in which the RIP is linked to antibodies that mediate their binding and internalization by malignant cells. In agriculture, RIPs have been shown to increase resistance against viruses, fungi, and insects in transgenic plants.

The focus of this Special Issue of Toxins will be on the biological activities of RIPs that may be relevant to their biological functions and biotechnological applications, as well as on the elucidation of the structure-activity relationships of these proteins.

Prof. Dr. José Miguel Ferreras
Prof. Dr. Lucía Citores
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antifeedant
  • antifungal
  • antitumoral
  • antiviral
  • apoptosis
  • immunotoxin
  • ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP)
  • rRNA N-glycosylase

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Article
Ebulin l Is Internalized in Cells by Both Clathrin-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms and Does Not Require Clathrin or Dynamin for Intoxication
Toxins 2021, 13(2), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13020102 - 30 Jan 2021
Viewed by 586
Abstract
Ebulin l is an A-B toxin, and despite the presence of a B chain, this toxin displays much less toxicity to cells than the potent A-B toxin ricin. Here, we studied the binding, mechanisms of endocytosis, and intracellular pathway followed by ebulin l [...] Read more.
Ebulin l is an A-B toxin, and despite the presence of a B chain, this toxin displays much less toxicity to cells than the potent A-B toxin ricin. Here, we studied the binding, mechanisms of endocytosis, and intracellular pathway followed by ebulin l and compared it with ricin. COS-1 cells and HeLa cells with inducible synthesis of a mutant dynamin (K44A) were used in this study. The transport of these toxins was measured using radioactively or fluorescently labeled toxins. The data show that ebulin l binds to cells to a lesser extent than ricin. Moreover, the expression of mutant dynamin does not affect the endocytosis, degradation, or toxicity of ebulin l. However, the inhibition of clathrin-coated pit formation by acidification of the cytosol reduced ebulin l endocytosis but not toxicity. Remarkably, unlike ricin, ebulin l is not transported through the Golgi apparatus to intoxicate the cells and ebulin l induces apoptosis as the predominant cell death mechanism. Therefore, after binding to cells, ebulin l is taken up by clathrin-dependent and -independent endocytosis into the endosomal/lysosomal system, but there is no apparent role for clathrin and dynamin in productive intracellular routing leading to intoxication. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins)
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Article
Kirkiin: A New Toxic Type 2 Ribosome-Inactivating Protein from the Caudex of Adenia kirkii
Toxins 2021, 13(2), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13020081 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 648
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant toxins that irreversibly damage ribosomes and other substrates, thus causing cell death. RIPs are classified in type 1 RIPs, single-chain enzymatic proteins, and type 2 RIPs, consisting of active A chains, similar to type 1 RIPs, linked to [...] Read more.
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are plant toxins that irreversibly damage ribosomes and other substrates, thus causing cell death. RIPs are classified in type 1 RIPs, single-chain enzymatic proteins, and type 2 RIPs, consisting of active A chains, similar to type 1 RIPs, linked to lectin B chains, which enable the rapid internalization of the toxin into the cell. For this reason, many type 2 RIPs are very cytotoxic, ricin, volkensin and stenodactylin being the most toxic ones. From the caudex of Adenia kirkii (Mast.) Engl., a new type 2 RIP, named kirkiin, was purified by affinity chromatography on acid-treated Sepharose CL-6B and gel filtration. The lectin, with molecular weight of about 58 kDa, agglutinated erythrocytes and inhibited protein synthesis in a cell-free system at very low concentrations. Moreover, kirkiin was able to depurinate mammalian and yeast ribosomes, but it showed little or no activity on other nucleotide substrates. In neuroblastoma cells, kirkiin inhibited protein synthesis and induced apoptosis at doses in the pM range. The biological characteristics of kirkiin make this protein a potential candidate for several experimental pharmacological applications both alone for local treatments and as component of immunoconjugates for systemic targeting in neurodegenerative studies and cancer therapy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins)
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Article
Antiviral Activity of PD-L1 and PD-L4, Type 1 Ribosome Inactivating Proteins from Leaves of Phytolacca dioica L. in the Pathosystem Phaseolus vulgaris–Tobacco Necrosis Virus (TNV)
Toxins 2020, 12(8), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12080524 - 14 Aug 2020
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 974
Abstract
Using the pathosystem Phaseolus vulgaris–tobacco necrosis virus (TNV), we demonstrated that PD-L1 and PD-L4, type-1 ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) from leaves of Phytolacca dioica L., possess a strong antiviral activity. This activity was exerted both when the RIPs and the virus were [...] Read more.
Using the pathosystem Phaseolus vulgaris–tobacco necrosis virus (TNV), we demonstrated that PD-L1 and PD-L4, type-1 ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) from leaves of Phytolacca dioica L., possess a strong antiviral activity. This activity was exerted both when the RIPs and the virus were inoculated together in the same leaf and when they were inoculated or applied separately in the adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces. This suggests that virus inhibition would mainly occur inside plant cells at the onset of infection. Histochemical studies showed that both PD-L1 and PD-L4 were not able to induce oxidative burst and cell death in treated leaves, which were instead elicited by inoculation of the virus alone. Furthermore, when RIPs and TNV were inoculated together, no sign of H2O2 deposits and cell death were detectable, indicating that the virus could have been inactivated in a very early stage of infection, before the elicitation of a hypersensitivity reaction. In conclusion, the strong antiviral activity is likely exerted inside host cells as soon the virus disassembles to start translation of the viral genome. This activity is likely directed towards both viral and ribosomal RNA, explaining the almost complete abolition of infection when virus and RIP enter together into the cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins)
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Review

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Review
Antiviral Activity of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins
Toxins 2021, 13(2), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins13020080 - 22 Jan 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 785
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are rRNA N-glycosylases from plants (EC 3.2.2.22) that inactivate ribosomes thus inhibiting protein synthesis. The antiviral properties of RIPs have been investigated for more than four decades. However, interest in these proteins is rising due to the emergence of infectious [...] Read more.
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are rRNA N-glycosylases from plants (EC 3.2.2.22) that inactivate ribosomes thus inhibiting protein synthesis. The antiviral properties of RIPs have been investigated for more than four decades. However, interest in these proteins is rising due to the emergence of infectious diseases caused by new viruses and the difficulty in treating viral infections. On the other hand, there is a growing need to control crop diseases without resorting to the use of phytosanitary products which are very harmful to the environment and in this respect, RIPs have been shown as a promising tool that can be used to obtain transgenic plants resistant to viruses. The way in which RIPs exert their antiviral effect continues to be the subject of intense research and several mechanisms of action have been proposed. The purpose of this review is to examine the research studies that deal with this matter, placing special emphasis on the most recent findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins)
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Review
Engineering of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins for Improving Pharmacological Properties
Toxins 2020, 12(3), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins12030167 - 09 Mar 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are N-glycosidases, which depurinate a specific adenine residue in the conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop (α-SRL) of rRNA. This loop is important for anchoring elongation factor (EF-G for prokaryote or eEF2 for eukaryote) in mRNA translocation. Translation is inhibited after the attack. [...] Read more.
Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are N-glycosidases, which depurinate a specific adenine residue in the conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop (α-SRL) of rRNA. This loop is important for anchoring elongation factor (EF-G for prokaryote or eEF2 for eukaryote) in mRNA translocation. Translation is inhibited after the attack. RIPs therefore may have been applied for anti-cancer, and anti-virus and other therapeutic applications. The main obstacles of treatment with RIPs include short plasma half-life, non-selective cytotoxicity and antigenicity. This review focuses on the strategies used to improve the pharmacological properties of RIPs on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and cancers. Coupling with polyethylene glycol (PEG) increases plasma time and reduces antigenicity. RIPs conjugated with antibodies to form immunotoxins increase the selective toxicity to target cells. The prospects for future development on the engineering of RIPs for improving their pharmacological properties are also discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins)
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