Novel Biological Actions Acquired by Ribonuclease A Through Oligomerization
After a short introduction with some examples of cytotoxic ribonucleases, the importance of natural or artificial dimerization (oligomerization) as a way for a ribonuclease to acquire novel functional properties has been pointed out. In particular, the role of the three dimensional domain swapping mechanism in bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A oligomerization, as well as its impact for the acquisition of novel biological functions (among which a remarkable antitumor action) by the enzyme protein in oligomeric form have been discussed. Finally, the structural and functional features that could explain why oligomeric ribonuclease A becomes able to display a cytotoxic activity, and the possible use and limits of the three dimensional domain-swapped oligomers of ribonuclease A as anticancer therapeutic agents have been described and discussed.
Keywords: 3D domain swapping; Antitumor therapy; Cytotoxicity; Cytotoxicity of oligomeric RNase A; RNase A; RNase A dimers; RNase A oligomers; RNase cytotoxicity
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 June 2008
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