Ribosome inactivating proteins and apoptosis

Abstract

Ribosome inactivating proteins (RIPs) are RNA N-glycosidases which potently inhibit translation by inactivating ribosomes. RIPs have also been shown to possess the ability to induce apoptosis. A number of RIPs from different sources have been used to study the mechanism of apoptosis induction. However, it is being observed that these toxins trigger apoptosis in different cell types via different mechanisms; although in most cases mitochondria have been involved, no single common pathway that is followed by the RIPs for apoptosis induction has emerged. There appears to be a consensus that the protein synthesis inhibition and induction of apoptosis by RIPs are independent of each other. In this chapter, we bring together the available studies on apoptosis induction by RIPs.