摘要：Curcin, a type 1 ribosome inactivating protein (RIP) is investigated here for its cellular competence on six mammalian cell lines. Cells exposed to curcin (100 μg/ml) for 72 h exhibited significant cellular metabolic arrest, with the cancer cell lines being more sensitive. The viability assessment of the cancer cells in a 3D cell culture based assay revealed highly restricted sprouting and proliferation with near to complete dead cell population. Prominent mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated reactive oxygen species levels, nuclear degeneration, structural/mechanical destabilization and suppression of defense mechanisms were imminent with the RIP treated cells. Expression levels of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), cytoskeletal focal adhesion kinases (FAK) and vinculin were significantly diminished. Vital cellular organelles as nucleus, mitochondria and actin were severely incapacitated on RIP exposure resulting in multimodal apoptosis and necrosis. The ability of curcin to impart comprehensive shutdown of the cells, especially cancer cells, complemented with its hemocompatibility, opens up possibilities of utilizing this ribotoxin as a prospective therapeutic candidate against cancers of diverse origins.
