Ribonucleases. Possible New Approach in Cancer Therapy

Abstract

In the review, the use of the ribonucleases for cancer therapy is discussed. Using of epigenetic mechanisms of regulation — blocking protein synthesis without affecting the DNA structure — is a promising direction in the therapy. The ribonucleases isolated from different sources, despite of similar mechanism of enzymatic reactions, have different biological effects. The use of enzymes isolated from new sources, particularly from plants and fungi, shows promising results. In this article we discuss the new approach for the use of enzymes resistant to inhibitors and ribozymes, that is aimed at the destruction of the oncogene specific mRNA and the induction of apoptosis.

Ribonuclease as Anticancer Therapeutics

“…RNases are a large group of hydrolytic enzymes that catalyze the degradation of ribonucleic acid (RNA) into smaller components with a very short lifespan in an endangered environment. RNases are a super family of enzymes which catalyze the degradation of RNA by operating at the level of transcription, protein synthesis and thus play key roles in the regulation of vital processes in any organism ranging from virus to human [1]. It is a type of nuclease which has the ability to catalyze cleavages of phosphodiester bonds in cellular RNA and also possess the biological activities like the maturation of mRNA and non-coding RNA, RNA interference, apoptosis induction and protection against viral infections these all process were not possible without RNA degradation [1,2].…”

“…RNases are a super family of enzymes which catalyze the degradation of RNA by operating at the level of transcription, protein synthesis and thus play key roles in the regulation of vital processes in any organism ranging from virus to human [1]. It is a type of nuclease which has the ability to catalyze cleavages of phosphodiester bonds in cellular RNA and also possess the biological activities like the maturation of mRNA and non-coding RNA, RNA interference, apoptosis induction and protection against viral infections these all process were not possible without RNA degradation [1,2]. RNases are heterogeneous groups of enzymes that are classified according to their RNA processing mechanisms: exoribonuclease and endoribonuclease which are ubiquitously present in prokaryotic and eukaryotic micro-organisms [2,3].…”

“…Some RNases have potential impact on malignant cells. Some of the ribonucleases possess higher molecular heterogeneity, with related protein that reveals high specificity for cleavage of specific loci in RNA [1,5]. RNases are omnipresent, with a very short lifespan in an unprotected environment.…”

“…BaRNase (RNase Ba) has also been identified and purified from first prokaryotic organism (Bacillus amyloliquefacians). RanpiRNase known as Onconase and RNase A as bovine pancreatic RNase are largely produced from animal sources [1,[6][7][8].…”

“…Onconase: Onconase belongs to the family of RNases A and it was isolated from early embryos and oocytes of Northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). Onconase shows strong cytotoxic and cytostatic activity and has 30% sequence similarity with superfamily RNase A [1,17]. Onconase enzyme has the potential to degrade RNA and their substrate and also possesses highly cytotoxic effect for several cancer cell lines.…”