Libonati M, Gotte G, Vottariello F
Dipartimento di Scienze Morfologico-Biomediche, Sezione di Chimica Biologica, Istituti Biologici, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy.
Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2008 Jun;9(3):200-9. doi: 10.2174/138920108784567308.
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.
