New ribosome-inactivating proteins and other proteins with protein synthesis-inhibiting activities.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) consist of three varieties. Type 1 RIPs are single-chained and approximately 30-kDa in molecular weight. Type 2 RIPs are double-chained and composed of a type 1 RIP chain and a lectin chain. Type III RIPs, such as maize b-32 barley and JIP60 which are produced as single-domain proenzymes, possess an N-terminal domain corresponding to the A domain of RIPs and fused to a C-terminal domain. In addition to the aforementioned three types of RIPs originating from flowering plants, there are recently discovered proteins and peptides with ribosome-inactivating and protein synthesis inhibitory activities but which are endowed with characteristics such as molecular weights distinctive from those of the regular RIPs. These new/unusual RIPs discussed in the present review encompass metazoan RIPs from Anopheles and Culex mosquitos, antimicrobial peptides derived from RIP of the pokeweed Phytolacca dioica, maize RIP (a type III RIP derived from a precursor form), RIPs from the garden pea and the kelp. In addition, RIPs with a molecular weight smaller than those of regular type 1 RIPs are produced by plants in the Cucurbitaceae family including the bitter gourd, bottle gourd, sponge gourd, ridge gourd, wax gourd, hairy gourd, pumpkin, and Chinese cucumber. A small type II RIP from camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) seeds and a snake gourd type II RIP with its catalytic chain cleaved into two have been reported. RIPs produced from mushrooms including the golden needle mushroom, king tuber mushroom, straw mushroom, and puffball mushroom are also discussed in addition to a type II RIP from the mushroom Polyporus umbellatus. Bacterial (Spiroplasma) RIPs associated with the fruitfly, Shiga toxin, and Streptomyces coelicolor RIP are also dealt with. The aforementioned proteins display a diversity of molecular weights, amino acid sequences, and mechanisms of action. Some of them are endowed with exploitable antipathogenic activities.

Structures and Ribosomal Interaction of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) including ricin, Shiga toxin, and trichosanthin, are RNA N-glycosidases that depurinate a specific adenine residue (A-4324 in rat 28S ribosomal RNA, rRNA) in the conserved α-sarcin/ricin loop (α-SRL) of rRNA. RIPs are grouped into three types according to the number of subunits and the organization of the precursor sequences. RIPs are two-domain proteins, with the active site located in the cleft between the N- and C-terminal domains. It has been found that the basic surface residues of the RIPs promote rapid and specific targeting to the ribosome and a number of RIPs have been shown to interact with the C-terminal regions of the P proteins of the ribosome. At present, the structural basis for the interaction of trichosanthin and ricin-A chain toward P2 peptide is known. This review surveys the structural features of the representative RIPs and discusses how they approach and interact with the ribosome.

Ribosome-inactivating and related proteins.

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are toxins that act as N-glycosidases (EC 3.2.2.22). They are mainly produced by plants and classified as type 1 RIPs and type 2 RIPs. There are also RIPs and RIP related proteins that cannot be grouped into the classical type 1 and type 2 RIPs because of their different sizes, structures or functions. In addition, there is still not a uniform nomenclature or classification existing for RIPs. In this review, we give the current status of all known plant RIPs and we make a suggestion about how to unify those RIPs and RIP related proteins that cannot be classified as type 1 or type 2 RIPs.

Transcriptional control of two ribosome-inactivating protein genes expressed in spinach (Spinacia oleracea) embryos.

SoRIP1 and SoRIP2 are ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP: EC 3.2.2.22) genes identified in spinach (Spinacia oleracea). They are differentially expressed in a development-dependent manner during spinach somatic embryogenesis. Here, we isolated genomic clones of SoRIP1 and SoRIP2. These two RIP genes have different genomic organization. Phylogenetic analysis of predicted amino acid sequences of RIPs in Caryophyllales plants revealed that they are divided into two major subfamilies, corresponding to SoRIP1 and SoRIP2. To gain further insight into the transcriptional control of SoRIP1 and SoRIP2, we obtained their 5'-flanking sequences by inverse PCR. Comparison of two 5'-flanking sequences revealed the characteristic cis elements in each region that confer differential transcriptional control. In the 5'-flanking region of SoRIP1, we found several motifs with functions related to embryonic development. The 5'-flanking region of SoRIP2 contains some defense-responsive motifs. Expression of SoRIP1 was detected in various tissues. In particular, SoRIP1 was highly expressed in the early immature fruits, and immunohistochemistry showed that SoRIP1 accumulated in the peripheral region of the immature embryo, with weaker expression in internal cells. During fruit development, the expression of SoRIP2 was low. However, the accumulation of SoRIP2 was conspicuous in the epidermis of the immature embryo. The expression of SoRIP2, but not SoRIP1, in leaves was induced by salicylic acid treatment. This differential transcriptional regulation of SoRIP1 and SoRIP2 suggests that the corresponding proteins may have different functions, one being related to embryonic development and the other to embryo defense.