Note: Intro -- Ribosome-inactivating Proteins: Ricin and Related Proteins -- Copyright -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- 1 Introduction and History -- Introduction -- Identification and Distribution in Nature -- Mechanism of Action -- Effects on Cells and Animals -- Role in Nature -- Practical Applications -- In Agriculture -- In Medicine -- Bioweapons -- Future Challenges -- References -- 2 Occurrence and Taxonomical Distribution of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins Belonging to the Ricin/Shiga Toxin Superfamily -- Introduction -- How to Investigate the Distribution of Proteins with an N-glycosidase Domain? -- Overview of the Occurrence of the N-glycosidase Domain in Living Organisms -- Plant RIPs -- Bacterial RIPs - Shiga Toxin Group -- Distantly Related Non-secreted Protein Homolog of Stx A Subunit -- RIPs in Actinobacteria -- Fungal RIPs -- Insect RIPs -- Conclusions -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 3 Ribosome-inactivating Proteins from Phytolaccaceae -- Introduction -- Physicochemical Properties and Structure -- Enzymatic Activities of RIPs from Phytolaccaceae -- Biological Activity -- 4 Ribosome-inactivating Proteins in Caryophyllaceae, Cucurbitaceae, and Euphorbiaceae -- Introduction -- Caryophyllaceae RIPs -- Agrostin -- Dianthin -- Gypsophilin -- Petroglaucin 1 and Petrograndin -- Saporin -- RIPs from Saponaria Ocymoides and Vaccaria Pyramidata -- Cucurbitaceae RIPs -- Bryodin -- Colocin 1 and Colocin 2 -- Cucumis Melo -- Cucurmosin -- Hispin -- Lagenin -- Luffangulin -- Luffa Cylindrica Protein Synthesis Inhibitors -- Luffin -- Luffacylin (Small RIP) -- LuffinS (Small RIP) -- Luffin P1 (Small RIP) -- Balsamin -- Bitter Gourd Protein (MRK29) -- MAP30 -- Alpha- and Beta-Momorcharins -- Charantin (Small RIP) -- Momorcochin -- Cochinin B -- Momorgrosvin -- MOR-I and MOR-II -- Moschatin -- Cucurbita Moschata RIP -- Pepocin -- Sechiumin. , Trichoanguin -- Trichobitacin -- Trichokirin -- Trichokirin-S1 (Small RIP) -- Trichomaglin -- Trichosanthin -- Karasurin-A, Karasurin-B, and Karasurin-C -- Trichosanthrip (Small RIP) -- Euphorbiaceae RIPs -- Croton Tiglium and Jatropha Curcas Protein Synthesis Inhibitors -- Curcin -- Gelonin -- Lychnin -- Mapalmin -- Type 1 RIPs from other Families -- Amaranthin (Family Amaranthaceae) -- Basella Rubra RIPs (Family Basellaceae) and Bougainvillea Spectabilis RIP (Family Nyctaginaceae) -- Beta Vulgaris RIP (Family Chamnopodiaceae) -- Nigritins f1 and f2 (Family Caprifoliaceae) -- Charybdin (Family Hyacinthaceae) -- Iris RIP (Family Iridaceae) -- Camphorin (Family Lauraceae) -- Mirabilis Jalapa RIP (Family Nyctaginaceae) -- Barley (Family Poaceae) -- Wheat (Family Poaceae) -- Algal RIPs -- Lamjapin (Family Laminariaceae) -- Fungal RIPs -- Clavin (Family Trichocomaceae) -- Flammin and Velin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Flammulin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Hypsin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Lyophyllin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Marmorin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Pleuturegin (Family Pleurotaceae) -- Velutin (Family Tricholomataceae) -- Volvarin (Family Plutaceae) -- Crystal Structures of RIPs -- Production of Recombinant RIPs -- Immunoreactivity of RIPs -- Effects of Thiolation on the Immunoreactivity of the RIP gelonin -- Other Activities of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Conclusion -- References -- 5 Non-toxic Type 2 Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Introduction -- Family Sambuceae -- Sambucus Ebulus (Dwarf Elder) -- Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry -- Black Elder) -- Sambucus Sieboldiana (Japanese Elderberry) -- Type 2 RIPs from Other Families -- Cinnamomin (Cinnamomum Camphora -- Family Lauraceae) -- Porrectin (Cinnamomum Porrectum -- Family Lauraceae) -- EHL (Eranthis Hyemalis -- Family Ranunculaceae) -- Foetidissimin (Cucurbita Foetidissima. , Family Cucurbitaceae) -- MCA (Momordica Charantia -- Family Cucurbitaceae) -- RCA (Ricinus Communis -- Family Euphorbiaceae) -- APA (Abrus Precatorious -- Family Fabaceae) -- VAA (Viscum Album -- Family Viscaceae) -- PMRIPm and PMRIPt (Poligonatum Multiflorum -- Family Liliaceae) -- IRAb and IRAr (Iris Holandica -- Family Liliaceae) -- Uses of nontoxic type 2 RIPs -- Construction of Immunotoxins and Conjugates -- Effects on insects -- Concluding remarks -- Acknowledgment -- References -- 6 The Intracellular Journey of Type 2 Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Introduction -- Cell Surface Events -- Endosome to TGN Sorting -- From the Golgi to the ER -- Reductive Separation and Destabilization of the Holotoxin Subunits -- Dislocation Across the ER Membrane -- Cytosolic Post-dislocation Events that Restore Catalytic Activity -- Concluding Remarks -- Acknowledgements -- References -- 7 Shiga Toxins: The Ribosome-inactivating Proteins from Pathogenic Bacteria -- Introduction -- Purification of Shiga Toxins -- Structure and Mechanism of Action of Shiga Toxins -- The AB5 Structure -- Intracellular Activation -- Ribosomes and DNA as Intracellular Targets -- Binding Properties of Shiga Toxins -- Role of Shiga Toxins in the Pathogenesis of HUS -- Pathogenesis of HUS -- Linking Shiga Toxins to the Pathogenesis of HUS -- The 2011 German STEC Outbreak -- References -- 8 The Structure and Action of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Introduction -- Ricin Structure -- Ricin B Chain -- Ricin A Chain -- Shiga and Shiga-Like Toxins -- Structure of Other RIPs -- Structure of RIP Complexes -- Interaction with Ribosomal Proteins -- Acknowledgments -- References -- 9 Updated Model of the Molecular Evolution of RIP Genes -- Introduction -- Important Issues to be Considered in View of the Evolution of RIP Genes -- The RIP Domain is not Ubiquitous in Plants. , Occurrence and Abundance of RIP Domains in Plants -- Differences in Topogenesis Among Plant RIPs -- Non-Plant RIPs -- Dissecting RIP Genes and RIP Gene Families by in silico Analysis of Genome and Transcriptome Data -- The RIP Gene Family Revised in Terms of Domain Architecture -- Sequence-Based Evidence for the Generation of Type [A] RIPs from Type [AB] and [AX] Chimers -- Survey of RIP Genes and RIP Gene Families in Completed Plant Genomes -- The Oryza Genome Harbors a very Extended RIP Gene Family -- New Insights in the Overall Phylogeny of Plant RIPs -- An Updated Model of the Molecular Evolution of the Plant RIP Gene Family -- What is the Evolutionary Link Between Plant and Non-Plant RIPs? -- Fungi -- Insects -- Bacteria -- Conclusions -- References -- 10 Enzymology of the Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Introduction -- Ricin as RNA N-glycosidase -- 28S rRNA as the Target of Modification by Ricin and Other RIPs -- RNA N-glycosidase Activity of Ricin A Chain -- Role of SRL in Ribosomes -- Structure of the Sarcin-Ricin Loop Studied by Substrate Specificity of RIPs -- Ribosomal RNA Apurinic Site-specific Lyase - Intrinsic Stability of the Ribosomes -- Action of RIPs on DNA -- References -- 11 A Long Journey to the Cytosol: What do We Know about Entry of Type 1 RIPs Inside a Mammalian Cell? -- Introduction -- Ribosome-inactivating Proteins (RIPs) From Plants: What Are They? -- Tridimensional Structures and Catalytic Active Residues -- Direct Binding of Type 1 RIP s to Mammalian Cell Membranes -- Possible Intracellular Sorting/Delivery Routes Established for RIPs by Biochemical Methods -- Type 1 RIP Internalization via Endosomal/Lysosomal System? -- RIP Internalization via Golgi/ER -- Exosome-Mediated Delivery -- Identification of Endocytotic Compartments Containing RIPs During Intracellular Delivery. , Binding of Targeted Type 1 RIPs to Cellular Membranes Through Selective Carrier Molecules -- The Effect of Known Potentiating Agents in the Intracellular Delivery of Toxins and their Relationship with Intracellular Delivery Paths -- Photochemical Internalization (PCI) of Toxins -- Conclusions and Perspectives -- References -- 12 Ribosome-inactivating Proteins: Pathology from Cells to Organs -- Introduction -- Mechanisms of Cell Death -- Apoptosis -- Necrosis -- Toxicity to Nervous Tissue -- Toxicity to Whole Animals -- Ingestion of Material Containing Ricin -- Inhalation of Ricin (Intra-pulmonary Ricin) -- Systemic Ricin Poisoning -- Damage to the Eye -- References -- 13 Antiviral and Antifungal Properties of RIPs -- Introduction -- Antiviral Activity of RIPs -- Correlation of Antiviral Activity with Toxicity -- Antiviral Activity in the Absence of Toxicity -- Direct effect of RIPs on Viruses -- Cell Signaling and Antiviral Activity -- Application of Antiviral RIPs in Agriculture -- Application of Antiviral RIPs in Medicine -- Antifungal Activities of RIPs -- Transgenic Models -- In vitro Models -- Summary and Future Directions -- References -- 14 Insecticidal and Antifungal Activities of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Introduction -- Crops, Insects, and Fungi -- Plant Insecticidal and Antifungal Proteins -- RIPs -- Reports on the Entomotoxicity of Type 2 RIPs -- Reports on the Entomotoxicity of Type 1 RIPs -- Antifungal Activity of Ribosome-inactivating Proteins -- Indirect Evidence of the Involvement of RIPs in Plant Defense -- Entomotoxic and Antifungal Activities of Non-Plant RIPs -- Concluding Remarks -- References -- 15 Immunology of RIPs and their Immunotoxins -- Introduction -- Immunology of RIPs -- Ricin, Abrin -- Trichosanthin, Karasurin -- Other RIPs -- Effects of RIPs on the Immune System and its Mechanisms. , RIPs with Prevailing Immunostimulating Effects.