Momordin (protein)
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Momordin or α-momorcharin is one of several related proteins isolated from several plants of the genus '' Momordica'', which includes the
bitter melon ''Momordica charantia'' (commonly called bitter melon; Goya; bitter apple; bitter gourd; bitter squash; balsam-pear; with many more names listed below) is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family Cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Afri ...
(''M. charantia'') and the balsam apple (''M. balsamina''). These enzymes are potent inhibitor of
protein synthesis Protein biosynthesis (or protein synthesis) is a core biological process, occurring inside Cell (biology), cells, homeostasis, balancing the loss of cellular proteins (via Proteolysis, degradation or Protein targeting, export) through the product ...
in
eukaryote Eukaryotes () are organisms whose cells have a nucleus. All animals, plants, fungi, and many unicellular organisms, are Eukaryotes. They belong to the group of organisms Eukaryota or Eukarya, which is one of the three domains of life. Bacte ...
s by inactivating the
ribosome Ribosomes ( ) are macromolecular machines, found within all cells, that perform biological protein synthesis (mRNA translation). Ribosomes link amino acids together in the order specified by the codons of messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules to ...
s. However its cytotoxic activity is limited because it is not taken up by the cells; it has to be chemically modified to do so. There are several variants, including momordin II (from ''M. balsamina'') and momordin-a (from ''M. charantia'').


See also

*
Momordin (saponin) Momordin is one of several saponins derived from oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid. These chemical compounds are found in some plants of the genus ''Momordica'', which includes the bitter melon (''M. charantia'') and the balsam apple (''M. balsamina'') ...
, an unrelated compound (a
saponin Saponins (Latin "sapon", soap + "-in", one of), also selectively referred to as triterpene glycosides, are bitter-tasting usually toxic plant-derived organic chemicals that have a foamy quality when agitated in water. They are widely distributed ...
of the
triterpenoid Triterpenes are a class of chemical compounds composed of three terpene units with the molecular formula C30H48; they may also be thought of as consisting of six isoprene units. Animals, plants and fungi all produce triterpenes, including squale ...
oleanic acid).


References

Ribosome-inactivating proteins {{protein-stub