Induction of apoptosis by mistletoe lectin I and its subunits. No evidence for cytotoxic effects caused by isolated A- and B-chains

Type II ribosome inactivating proteins (RIP II) are generally known to induce apoptosis in human cells by the inhibition of protein biosynthesis. Recent data from mistletoe RIP II proteins (eg. mistletoe lectin I; ML1) suggest an additional mode of apoptosis induction through the binding of their le...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology 2000-03, Vol.32 (3), p.317-326
Main Authors: Vervecken, Wouter, Kleff, Stefan, Pfüller, Uwe, Büssing, Arndt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Apo2.7
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - drug effects
B-chain
Cell Line
Flow Cytometry
Humans
In Vitro Techniques
Lectin
Lectins - chemistry
Lectins - toxicity
Lymphocytes - cytology
Lymphocytes - drug effects
Mistletoe
Plant Lectins
Plant Preparations
Plant Proteins
Plants, Medicinal
Protein Structure, Quaternary
Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 2
Ribosomes - drug effects
RIP II
Toxins, Biological - chemistry
Toxins, Biological - isolation & purification
Toxins, Biological - toxicity
Viscum
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Summary:Type II ribosome inactivating proteins (RIP II) are generally known to induce apoptosis in human cells by the inhibition of protein biosynthesis. Recent data from mistletoe RIP II proteins (eg. mistletoe lectin I; ML1) suggest an additional mode of apoptosis induction through the binding of their lectin part to certain cell surface receptors as is known for some human galectins. In order to clarify this possibility, we used highly sensitive flow cytometric apoptosis assays and mistletoe hololectin subunits of proven purity to show that neither human lymphocytes nor Molt-4 cells undergo apoptosis after treatment with isolated lectin-type B-chains. In contrast to earlier investigations, only the hololectin was able to induce apoptosis in these assays. We conclude that direct apoptosis induction by mistletoe lectins occurs only after uptake of the molecules into the cell due to the action of the ribosome inactivating A-chain.
ISSN:1357-2725
1878-5875
DOI:10.1016/S1357-2725(99)00135-1