Physiological importance of polyamines

Abstract

Polyamines are polycationic molecules that contain two or more amino groups (-NH3 +) and are present in all eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Polyamines are synthesized from arginine, ornithine, and proline, and from methionine as the methyl-group donor. In the traditional pathway for polyamine synthesis, arginase converts arginine into ornithine, which is decarboxylated by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1) to generate putrescine. The latter is converted to spermidine and spermine. Recent studies have indicated the existence of 'non-classical pathways' for the generation of putrescine from arginine and proline in animal cells. Specifically, arginine decarboxylase (ADC) catalyzes the conversion of arginine into agmatine, which is hydrolyzed by agmatinase (AGMAT) to form putrescine. Additionally, proline is oxidized by proline oxidase to yield pyrroline-5-carboxylate, which undergoes transamination with glutamate to produce ornithine for decarboxylation by ODC1. Intracellular production of polyamines is controlled by antizymes binding to and inactivating ODC1. Polyamines exert effects that include stimulation of cell division and proliferation, gene expression for the survival of cells, DNA and protein synthesis, regulation of apoptosis, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and cell-cell communication activity. Accordingly, polyamines are essential for early embryonic development and successful pregnancy outcome in mammals. In this paper the main concepts on the history, structure and molecular pathways of polyamines as well as their physiological role on angiogenesis, and reproductive physiology are reviewed.

Repurposing host-based therapeutics to control coronavirus and influenza virus

“…Polyamines are small molecules, and each polyamine carries more than two amino groups [103]. Polyamines are involved in conformational changes of DNA and modulation of transcription, translation and signaling pathways in cells [104][105][106][107].…”

Biogenic Amines in Alcohol-Free Beverages

“…These BAs also have the specific function of stabilizing cell membranes [22,23]. Polyamines can also act as secondary messengers in cellular metabolism, an essential process for cell growth and regeneration [24][25][26]. Even if some amines are physiologically present in the human body, their ingestion at a high concentration can be toxic and produce poisoning symptoms, involving a wide range of organs [27].…”

Critical functions of the polyamine putrescine for proliferation and viability of Leishmania donovani parasites

“…The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are ubiquitous and essential cations that play critical roles in proliferation and survival, although their exact functions are still unclear (Igarashi and Kashiwagi 2010;Lenis et al 2017;Miller-Fleming et al 2015;Minois et al 2011;Pegg 2016). Whether the three polyamines have different or overlapping functions and whether all three polyamines are essential remains unknown (Bachrach et al 2001;Igarashi and Kashiwagi 2010).…”