Ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) is a bacterial or plant toxin which inhibits protein synthesis. RIP inactivates the ribosomal 60S subunit by N-glycosidic cleavage which results in releasing a specific adenine from 28S rRNA. Type 1 RIP has a single chain, while type 2 RIP has two chains. Enhanced expression of RIP in plants confers an increased resistance to virus, fungi, insects, drought and salinity.
Function
Disease
Relevance
RIP is being investigated as an immunotoxin for cancer treatment. Besides the anti-tumor activity of RIP, it was shown to have antiviral, antifungal, insecticidal, ribonuclease and deoxyribonuclease activities.
Structural highlights
