Work

Anti‐HIV‐1 property of trichosanthin correlates with its ribosome inactivating activity

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome inactivating (RI) protein possessing anti-tumor and antiviral activity, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The mechanism of these actions is not entirely clear, but is generally attributed to its RI property. In order to study the relationship between the anti-HIV-1 activity of TCS and its RI activity, three TCS mutants with different RI activities were constructed by using site-directed mutagenesis. The anti-HIV-1 activities of the three mutants were tested in vitro. Results showed that two TCS mutants, namely TCS(M(120-123)), TCS(E160A/E189A), with the greatest decrease in RI activity, lost almost all of the anti-HIV activity and cytopathic effect. Another mutant TCS(R122G), which exhibited a 160-fold decrease in RI activity, retained some anti-HIV activity. The results from this study suggested that RI activity of TCS may have significant contribution to its anti-HIV-1 property.

Source: FEBS Letters

DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(02)03539-1

Authors: Jian-Hua Wang, Hui-Ling Nie, Siu-Cheung Tam, Hai Huang, Yong-Tang Zheng

Institutions: Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Medical Research Council