Molecular cloning and functional identification of a ribosome inactivating/antiviral protein from leaves of post-flowering stage of Celosia cristata and its expression in E. coli

A full-length cDNA clone of 1015 nucleotides was isolated from the cDNA library of post-flowering stage of Celosia cristata leaves. When it was expressed in Escherichia coli, the purified product showed N-glycosidase activity towards tobacco ribosomes and antiviral activity towards tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and sunnhemp rosette virus (SRV).