Ls. Ditoppi et al., PRODUCTION OF RIBOSOME-INACTIVATING PROTEIN FROM HAIRY ROOT CULTURES OF LUFFA-CYLINDRICA (L) ROEM, Plant cell reports, 15(12), 1996, pp. 910-913
Transformed root lines of Luffa cylindrica (L.) Roem. (Cucurbitaceae)
were established by inoculation of in vitro grown plantlets with wild
type Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain 1855. Cloned lines of hairy roots
were tested for the presence of ribosome-inactivating proteins; crude
extracts inhibited protein synthesis in a reaction mixture based on r
abbit reticulocyte lysate. inhibitory activity increased during cultur
e period, reaching a maximum value in the stationary phase. No activit
y could be detected in the culture medium, nor in extracts from callus
and/or suspension cultures, A ribosome-inactivating protein having sp
ecific activity of 62,100 U mg protein(-1) and a molecular mass of 26-
28,000 Da was purified to homogeneity. The protein showed N-glycosidas
e activity on rat liver ribosomes. The results demonstrate that hairy
root cultures can be successfully utilized for the in vitro production
of ribosome-inactivating proteins.