RIP-JIP60 alters conformation of ribosomes in vivo.

Recently it has been demonstrated that expression putative ribosome-inactivating protein JIP 60 in transgenic tobacco plants leads to the depurination of large rRNA and inactivation of plant ribosomes. Treatment of ribosomes from transgenic tobacco plants with low concentration of alpha-sarcin resulted in the appearance of an rRNA specific fragment. No fragment was observed under the same conditions for ribosomes from wild type plants. The alteration of the comformation of ribosomes in transgenic tobacco due to the expression of JIP60 is assumed. Copyright 1999 Academic Press.