Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.1.27.1 (RNase)
16,360 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Human eosinophil cationic protein (ECP)/ ribonuclease 3 (RNase 3) is a protein secreted from the secondary granules of activated eosinophils. Specific properties of ECP contribute to its cytotoxic activities associated with defense mechanisms. In this work the ECP cytotoxic activity on eukaryotic cell lines is analyzed. The ECP effects begin with its binding and aggregation to the cell surface, altering the cell membrane permeability and modifying the cell ionic equilibrium. No internalization of the protein is observed. These signals induce cell-specific morphological and biochemical changes such as chromatin condensation, reversion of membrane asymmetry, reactive oxygen species production and activation of caspase-3-like activity and, eventually, cell death. However, the ribonuclease activity component of ECP is not involved in this process as no RNA degradation is observed. In summary, the cytotoxic effect of ECP is attained through a mechanism different from that of other cytotoxic RNases and may be related with the ECP accumulation associated with the inflammatory processes, in which eosinophils are present.
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PMID:The cytotoxicity of eosinophil cationic protein/ribonuclease 3 on eukaryotic cell lines takes place through its aggregation on the cell membrane. 1808 74

RNase A (bovine pancreatic RNase) is the founding member an extensive family of divergent proteins that share specific elements of sequence homology, a unique disulfide-bonded tertiary structure, and the ability to hydrolyze polymeric RNA. Among the more intriguing and perhaps counterintuitive findings, at the current state of the art, the connection between RNase activity and characterized host defense functions is quite weak; whether this is a scientific reality or more a reflection of what has been chosen for study remains to be determined. Several of the RNase A family RNases are highly cationic and have cytotoxic and bactericidal properties that are clearly (eosinophil cationic protein, leukocyte RNase A-2) or are probably (RNase 7) unrelated to their enzymatic activity. Interestingly, peptides derived from the leukocyte RNase A-2 sequence are nearly as bactericidal as the entire protein, suggesting that among other functions, the RNase A superfamily may be serving as a source of gene scaffolds for the generation of novel cytotoxic peptides. Other RNase A ribonucleases are somewhat less cationic (mouse angiogenin 4, zebrafish RNases) and have moderate bactericidal activities that have not yet been explored mechanistically. Additional host defense functions characterized specifically for the RNase eosinophil-derived neurotoxin include reducing infectivity of RNA viruses for target cells in culture, which does require RNase activity, chemoattraction of immature human dendritic cells via a G-protein-coupled receptor-dependent mechanism, and activation of TLR2. The properties of individual RNase A ribonucleases, recent experimental findings, and important questions for the near and distant future will be reviewed.
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PMID:RNase A ribonucleases and host defense: an evolving story. 1821 64

Ranpirnase, a cytotoxic ribonuclease from the frog Rana pipiens, is the archetype of a novel class of cancer chemotherapeutic agents based on homologs and variants of bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A). Ranpirnase in combination with doxorubicin is in clinical trials for the treatment of unresectable malignant mesothelioma and other cancers. The putative mechanism for ranpirnase-mediated cytotoxicity involves binding to anionic components of the extracellular membrane, cytosolic internalization, and degradation of transfer RNA leading to apoptosis. The maintenance of ribonucleolytic activity in the presence of the cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein is a key aspect of the cytotoxic activity of ranpirnase. The basis for its specific toxicity for cancer cells is not known. This review describes the development of ranpirnase as a cancer chemotherapeutic agent.
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PMID:Ribonucleases as novel chemotherapeutics : the ranpirnase example. 1821 91

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is an eosinophil-secreted RNase involved in the immune host defense, with a cytotoxic activity against a wide range of pathogens. The protein displays antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. The protein can destabilize lipid bilayers, although the action at the membrane level can only partially account for its bactericidal activity. We have now shown that ECP can bind with high affinity to the bacteria-wall components. We have analyzed its specific association to lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), its lipid A component, and peptidoglycans (PGNs). ECP high-affinity binding capacity to LPSs and lipid A has been analyzed by a fluorescent displacement assay, and the corresponding dissociation constants were calculated using the protein labeled with a fluorophor. The protein also binds in vivo to bacteria cells. Ultrastructural analysis of cell bacteria wall and morphology have been visualized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy in both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The protein damages the bacteria surface and induces the cell population aggregation on E. coli cultures. Although both bacteria strain cells retain their shape and no cell lysis is patent, the protein can induce in E. coli the outer membrane detachment. ECP also activates the cytoplasmic membrane depolarization in both strains. Moreover, the depolarization activity on E. coli does not require any pretreatment to overcome the outer membrane barrier. The protein binding to the bacteria-wall surface would represent a first encounter step key in its antimicrobial mechanism of action.
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PMID:Eosinophil cationic protein high-affinity binding to bacteria-wall lipopolysaccharides and peptidoglycans. 1829 32

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is currently used as a biomarker for airway inflammation. It is a heparin-binding ribonuclease released by activated eosinophils. Its cytotoxicity toward cancer cell lines is blocked by heparin. The objective of this study was to locate the heparin binding site of ECP by site-directed mutagenesis and construction of a synthetic peptide derived from this region. Synthetic heparin with > or =5 monosaccharide units showed strong inhibition of ECP binding to the cell surface. Analysis of ECP mt1 (R34A/W35A/R36A/K38A) showed that these charged and aromatic residues were involved in ECP binding to heparin and the cell surface. A potential binding motif is located in the loop L3 region between helix alpha2 and strand beta1, outside the RNA binding domain. The synthetic peptide derived from the loop L3 region displayed strong pentasaccharide binding affinity and blocked ECP binding to cells. In addition, ECP mt1 showed reduced cytotoxicity. Thus, the tight interaction between ECP and heparin acts as the primary step for ECP endocytosis. These results provide new insights into the structure and function of ECP for anti-asthma therapy.
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PMID:Characterization of molecular interactions between eosinophil cationic protein and heparin. 1859 10

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a secretory ribonuclease, which is found in the eosinophilic leukocyte and involved in the innate immune system. Its cytotoxic activity is effective against a wide range of pathogens, suggesting a relatively non-specific mechanism of action. We review here the specific antipathogen activities that have been characterized for ECP. Although eosinophils and ECP are primarily associated with the host defense against nonphagocytosable pathogens, such as helminthic parasites, ECP has also an antibacterial activity, which is not shared by the other, closely-related eosinophil ribonuclease, the eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN). Although there is no evidence for direct involvement in vivo of eosinophils in the host response to bacterial infection, ECP is active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains and its mechanism depends on its action both at the bacterial cell wall and cytoplasmic membrane levels. Other antipathogen activities, including antihelminthic activity, are also discussed. Modulation of the protein activity by posttranslational modifications and the currently identified polymorphisms are reviewed. Antimicrobial RNases, as innate immune proteins with anti-infective and immunomodulatory properties, present substantial therapeutic potential in the drug development industry, both in the search of alternative antibiotics and for the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
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PMID:The antipathogen activities of eosinophil cationic protein. 1867 79

Onconase (ONC) is an amphibian member of the bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) superfamily that exhibits innate antitumoral activity. ONC has been granted both orphan-drug and fast-track status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, and is poised to become the first chemotherapeutic agent based on a ribonuclease. Investigations into the mechanism of ribonuclease-based cytotoxicity have elucidated several important determinants for cytotoxicity, including efficient deliverance of ribonucleolytic activity to the cytosol and preservation of conformation stability. Nevertheless, the most striking similarity between ONC and bovine seminal ribonuclease, another naturally cytotoxic ribonuclease, is their insensitivity to inhibition by the potent cytosolic ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI). RI typically binds to its ribonuclease ligands with femtomolar affinity--an extraordinary feat considering the modest sequence identity among the bound ribonucleases. Mammalian ribonucleases such as RNase A or its human homologue, RNase 1, have the potential to be more attractive chemotherapeutic agents than ONC owing to their higher catalytic activity, low potential for immunogenicity, favorable tissue distribution, and high therapeutic index, but are limited by their sensitivity to RI. These non-toxic mammalian ribonucleases can be transformed into potent cytotoxins by engendering them with RI-evasion using protein engineering strategies such as site-directed mutagenesis, multimerization, fusion to a targeting moiety, and chemical modification. In several instances, these engineered ribonucleases exhibit greater cytotoxicity in vitro than does ONC. Herein, we review the biochemical characteristics of RIribonuclease complexes and progress towards the development of mammalian ribonuclease-based chemotherapeutics through the elicitation of RI-evasion.
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PMID:Evasion of ribonuclease inhibitor as a determinant of ribonuclease cytotoxicity. 1867 84

One of the tightest known protein-protein interactions in biology is that between members of the ribonuclease A superfamily and the ribonuclease inhibitor protein (RI). Some members of this superfamily are able to kill cancer cells, and the ability to evade RI is a major determinant of whether a ribonuclease will be cytotoxic. The archetypal cytotoxic ribonuclease, onconase (ONC), is in late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. We present here the first measurement of the inhibition of the ribonucleolytic activity of ONC by RI. This inhibition occurs with K(i)=0.15muM in a solution of low salt concentration.
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PMID:Interaction of onconase with the human ribonuclease inhibitor protein. 1893 25

Onconase is a cytotoxic ribonuclease which targets tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. To date, cellular tRNA appeared to be the major target for Onconase mediated cytotoxic activity. Most recently we demonstrated that Onconase can also cleave double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). Incubation of Onconase at 37 degrees C with GAPDH gene-dsRNA (approximately 440 bp long) and dsRNA ladder showed degradation of dsRNA into a spectrum of smaller dsRNA fragments. Moreover, incubation of dsRNA substrates at 40 degrees C under similar conditions markedly potentiated further cleavage of dsRNAs. The recently discovered double-stranded RNase activity of Onconase suggests another mechanism for inducing cell death/apoptosis in malignant phenotypes via the RNA interference mechanism involving siRNA and miRNA.
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PMID:Effect of Onconase on double-stranded RNA in vitro. 1941 47

Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a secretory protein of the eosinophil granulocyte, a cell involved in innate immunity. Functional studies have implicated ECP in numerous processes, such as tissue remodeling in allergic inflammation and cytotoxicity toward a variety of pathogens. Recent genetic studies have suggested that the ECP 434(G>C) polymorphism resulting in an arg97thr substitution would alter the function of ECP in vivo. Functional (in vitro) studies of ECP up until now have either been conducted with native preparations containing an unknown mixture of the ECP(97arg) and ECP(97thr) variants, or with recombinant proteins. Therefore, we have now for the first time extracted the native ECP(97arg) and ECP(97thr) variants from healthy blood donors and tested them functionally in vitro. Our results show that the arg97thr shift dramatically alters the cytotoxic capacity of ECP in vitro; the tested ECP(97arg) variants were cytotoxic toward the small-cell lung cancer cell line NCI-H69, whereas ECP(97thr) was noncytotoxic. RNase activity was unaffected by the arg97thr substitution. Both ECP(97arg) and ECP(97thr) stimulated fibroblast-mediated collagen gel contraction, an experimental model, which depicts wound healing, in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the ECP 434(G>C) gene polymorphism affects the functional properties of native ECP, but also that there is a dissociation between different biological activities; the arg97thr substitution impairs the cytotoxic potential of ECP but less the gel contraction and not at all the RNase activity.
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PMID:The coding ECP 434(G>C) gene polymorphism determines the cytotoxicity of ECP but has minor effects on fibroblast-mediated gel contraction and no effect on RNase activity. 1954 56


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