Ribosome-Inactivating and Related Proteins

Abstract

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.

Keywords

• ribosome-inactivating proteins
• RIPs
• type 1 RIP
• RIP 1
• type 2 RIP
• RIP 2
• N-glycosidase
• nomenclature of RIPs
• classification of RIPs