Ribosome-inactivating protein-containing conjugates for therapeutic use

Abstract

A number of plant proteins inhibit protein synthesis by irreversibly inactivating the 60S ribosomal subunit in a catalytical, that is, enzymatic, manner. For this property, they are called ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs). Several RIPs are utilized in the preparation of therapeutic heteroconjugates (immunotoxins), obtained either by chemical conjugation of a vehicle molecule to an RIP or by genetic fusion of a targeting molecule and an RIP. In the present review, we will focus on the properties of RIPs and of their immunotoxins. The most recent advancements in this domain will be reported in the following paragraphs. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2010.