The cytotoxic eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) has ribonuclease activity

Summary, in English

The eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is a specific cytotoxic constituent of granules. In this work we demonstrated that ECP has a ribonuclease activity. Purified ECP was resolved by ion exchange chromatography into subfractions, which all showed ribonuclease activity. Another eosinophil granule protein, EPX, identical with eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) had a 125-fold higher RNase activity than ECP. ECP may exert its cytotoxic effects on parasites and cells because of its extreme basicity alone or it may be internalized and act by degrading mRNA.

• Author: Urban Gullberg; Bengt Widegren; Ulfur Arnason; Arne Egesten; Inge Olsson
• Department/s: Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine; Neurosurgery; Infection Medicine (BMC); Respiratory Medicine, Allergology, and Palliative Medicine
• Publishing year: 1986
• Language: English
• Pages: 1239-1242
• Publication/Series: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
• Volume: 139
• Issue: 3
• Links: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=3768000
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Topic: Medical and Health Sciences
• Status: Published