What is the function of spermine?
Spermine is an endogenous polyamine bearing multiple amino groups. It has been found to play important roles in cellular metabolism in all eukaryotic cells. It also can condense DNA in sperm due to its positive charge in the physiological condition.
How are polyamines synthesized?
Polyamines are synthesized from the amino acids arginine, ornithine and methionine. The first step in the pathway is the production of ornithine from arginine by the mitochondrial enzyme arginase. Ornithine is then decarboxylated by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) to produce putrescine.
What is the function of polyamines in cells?
Polyamines, consisting of putrescine, spermidine and spermine are essential for normal cell growth and viability in eukaryotic cells. Since polyamines are cations, they interact with DNA, ATP, phospholipids, specific kinds of proteins, and especially with RNA.
Where is spermine found?
Spermine is a polyamine involved in cellular metabolism that is found in all eukaryotic cells. The precursor for synthesis of spermine is the amino acid ornithine. It is an essential growth factor in some bacteria as well. It is found as a polycation at physiological pH.
What is the pH of spermine?
pH 7.4
To confirm that spermine was biologically active at pH 7.4 we tested its effects on heterologously expressed glutamate receptors (GluR3) (Fig.
What is polyamines in biology?
Polyamines (PAs) are aliphatic polycations ubiquitously present in all tissues and all cell types examined in animals and plants. Main PAs in mammalian cells and plants are putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm), with thermo-Spm (T-Spm) discovered in plants to be important against abiotic stress.
What does spermine smell like?
When it comes to sea lampreys, however, spermine smells like love. Spermine, an odorous compound found in male semen, proved to be a powerful aphrodisiac. Some people are drawn to cologne; others are attracted to perfume. When it comes to sea lampreys, however, spermine smells like love.
Is spermine a base?
It is found as a polycation at physiological pH. Spermine is associated with nucleic acids and is thought to stabilize helical structure, particularly in viruses….Spermine.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name N1,N4-Bis(3-aminopropyl)butane-1,4-diamine | |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 71-44-3 (free base) 306-67-2 (tetrahydrochloride) |
How is the biosynthesis of spermidine and spermine regulated?
Biosynthesis of polyamines is tightly regulated by enzymes, including ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which regulates the conversion of ornithine into putrescine; and spermidine synthase (SpS) and spermine synthase (SmS), which regulate the biosynthesis of spermidine and spermine, respectively (Figure 23.1 ).
What is the name of the derivative of spermine?
A derivative of spermine, N 1 , N 12 -bis (ethyl)spermine (also known as BESm) was investigated in the late 1980s along with similar polyamine analogues for its potential as a cancer therapy. Spermine biosynthesis in animals starts with decarboxylation of ornithine by the enzyme Ornithine decarboxylase in the presence of PLP.
Which is the enzyme that adds another aminopropyl to spermine?
Spermine synthase (EC2.5.1.22) is a different enzyme that can add another aminopropyl group to spermine. The polycations spermidine and spermine are essential growth factors for all cells, but it is not yet known how they act.
How is polyamine metabolism related to spermidine metabolism?
Polyamine metabolism is closely connected with transmethylation pathways via SAM. S-adenosyldecarboxylase (AMD) converts SAM into decarboxy SAM (dSAM). Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) converts ornithine into putrescine. On the other hand, spermidine synthase (SdS) and spermine synthase (SmS) forms spermidine and spermine, respectively.