1,4-Diaminobutane (Putrescine), Spermidine, and Spermine

Abstract

As is evident from the above summary of the recent literature, plus many other papers not cited here, there is an extensive literature indicating the physiological significance of these amines. The most important studies can be summarized as follows. (a) Polyamines and their biosynthetic enzymes are ubiquitous. (b) Microbiological mutants have been described in which there is a definite requirement of polyamines for growth. (c) The concentration of polyamines and their biosynthesis enzymes increase when the growth rate increases. These increases usually precede or are simultaneous with increases in RNA, DNA, and protein levels. (d) Ornithine decarboxylase has a remarkably fast turnover rate in animal cells, and the level of this enzyme rapidly changes after a variety of growth stimuli. (e) Polyamines have a high affinity for nucleic acids and stabilize their secondary structure. They are found associated with DNA in bacteriophages and have a variety of stimulatory effects on DNA and RNA biosynthesis in vitro. (f) Polyamines stimulate protein synthesis in vivo and in vitro. (g) Polyamines protect spheroplasts and halophilic organisms for lysis, indicating their ability to stabilize membranes. Despite these observations, no specific mechanism has been firmly established for the action of the polyamines in vivo. It is clear that these compounds are physiologically important, however, and further work is necessary to establish the mechanism of their action.

Substrate specificity of 5′-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase from human prostate

“…The other pathway, which is the most relevant quantitatively, involves the transfer of the propylamine moiety from the decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine to putrescine or spermidine (Pegg& Williams-Ashman, 1970;Bowman et al, 1973;Tabor & Tabor, 1976;Zappia et al, 1977a): 2mol of 5'-methylthioadenosine is released/mol of spermine and 1 mol/mol of spermidine. Both enzymic routes are virtually irreversible.…”

The Effects of Drugs, Other Foreign Compounds, and Cigarette Smoke on the Synthesis of Protein by Lung Slices

“…Acrolein is a well-known cytotoxin that is widely distributed in biological material (9). In an early study Willmer and Walersteiner (10) showed that various aldehydes inhibited growth and cellular activity in the concentration region of 2 mM.…”

Polyamines and cellular adenosine 3′ :5′-cyclic monophosphate

“…This change in enzyme stability may lead to an apparent increase in activity, even when the rate of enzyme synthesis remains constant (Tabor & Tabor, 1976).…”

“…The naturally occurring polyamines spermine and spermidine and the diamine putrescine are widely distributed in biological material (Cohen, 1971;Bachrach, 1973) and are currently considered to play an important role in regulating growth, development and function of various types of cells (Caldarera & Moruzzi, 1970;Heby et al, 1975a;Tabor & Tabor, 1976;Janne et al, 1978). Small changes in growth rates, progression through the mitotic cycle and responses to various hormones are frequently accompanied by striking alterations in the activity of the biosynthetic enzymes (Russell et al, 1976;CIo et al, 1976).…”