Targeting cancer cells with transferrin conjugates containing the non-toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins nigrin b or ebulin l
Nigrin b and ebulin l are type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) with 104 times less cellular and in vivo toxicity than ricin that are currently being considered for the construction of anti-cancer conjugates. Here we provide evidence that both RIPs can be used for the construction of conjugat...
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Published in | Cancer letters Vol. 184; no. 1; pp. 29 - 35 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Ireland
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
08.10.2002
Elsevier Limited |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Nigrin b and ebulin l are type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) with 104 times less cellular and in vivo toxicity than ricin that are currently being considered for the construction of anti-cancer conjugates. Here we provide evidence that both RIPs can be used for the construction of conjugates directed to a target such as the transferrin receptor (TfR), which is over-expressed in cancer cells. Nigrin b– and ebulin l–transferrin conjugates were constructed with no substantial reduction in the translational inhibitory molecular activity of either RIPs. Conjugation with transferrin decreased the IC50 of the proteins from 3×10−7M (nigrin b) and 1.5×10−8M (ebulin l) to 3.5×10−10M in HeLa cells. Thus, both conjugates could be considered as useful tools for targeting TfR-over-expressing cancer cells. |
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ISSN: | 0304-3835 1872-7980 |
DOI: | 10.1016/S0304-3835(02)00169-6 |