The main results of the research performed in the last 30 years on ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are reviewed, with emphasis on the new, controversial and uncertain aspects. The nature, distribution, mechanism of action and properties of these proteins are briefly reported, together with their possible applications. A pattern appears of a still largely unexplored subject, whose role in ...

a debilitating muscle-and fat-wasting condition that is associated with multiple diseases, including cancer, diabetes, AIDS and tuberculosis, as well as injuries. Estimates reveal that up to 80% of all cancer patients suffer from cachexia, which not only leads to a decrease in the quality of life due to impaired mobility but also accounts directly for ~20% of cancer-related deaths (Fearon, 2008...

The termostable direct hemolysin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus is inactivated by heating at around 55 C with an inactivating factor isolated from culture filtrates of V. parahaemolyticus. The characteristics of the temperature-dependent inactivating factor were studied by using polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. It was found that when heated with the hemolysin, the inactivating factor destro...

A nitrate reductase (EC 1.6.6.1)-inactivating factor has been isolated from 8-day-old wheat leaves. The purification schedule involved ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephadex G-100 filtration, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Sephadex G-150 filtration. No accurate assessment could be made as to the degree of purification relative to crude extract as the inactivating factor could not be detec...

Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) were first isolated over a century ago and have been shown to be catalytic toxins that irreversibly inactivate protein synthesis. Elucidation of atomic structures and molecular mechanism has revealed these proteins to be a diverse group subdivided into two classes. RIPs have been shown to exhibit RNA N-glycosidase activity and depurinate the 28S rRNA of the...

A synthetic peptide patterned after the sequence of the inactivating "ball" domain of the Shaker B K(+) channel restores fast (N-type) inactivation in mutant deletion channels lacking their constitutive ball domains, as well as in K(+) channels that do not normally inactivate. We now report on the effect of phosphorylation at a single tyrosine in position 8 of the inactivating peptide both on i...

boiling of water for its purification has been recommended since 500 b. o. modern desinfecition methods involve specialized treatments for the purpose of destroying or inactivating pathogenic organisms . different factors .in flu - ensing the efficiency of desinfection are considered in this article physical and chemical methods of water desinfection are described briefly the use of chemical ox...