alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), a specific and irreversible inhibitor of the polyamine biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase, effectively inhibits mycelial growth of several phytopathogenic fungi on defined media in vitro and provides systemic protection of bean plants against infection by Uromyces phaseoli L. race 0 (MV Rajam, AW Galston 1985 Plant Cell Physiol 26: 683-692; MV Raja...

Introduction Photosynthetic organisms respond to nitrogen (N) deprivation with the slowdown of photosynthesis and electron transport resulting in balance carbon (C)/N ratio. Under this extreme condition, trigger complex mechanisms keep growing using different N sources recycling containing molecules. In particular, phytoplankton are able uptake L-arginine (L-Arg) as an organic source. L-Arg can...

Arginine is one of the most versatile amino acids in animal cells, serving as a precursor for the synthesis not only of proteins but also of nitric oxide, urea, polyamines, proline, glutamate, creatine and agmatine. Of the enzymes that catalyse rate-controlling steps in arginine synthesis and catabolism, argininosuccinate synthase, the two arginase isoenzymes, the three nitric oxide synthase is...

The effect of K-deficiency on the putrescine biosynthetic enzyme, arginine decarboxylase (ADC), was investigated by growing oat (Avena sativa L. var Victory) plants on a low-K, but otherwise complete nutrient medium in washed quartz sand for up to 18 days. Enzyme activity rose as the concentration of KCl was dropped to 0.6 millimolar or below. However, growth was not inhibited significantly at ...

BACKGROUND Arginine is a high-value product, especially for the pharmaceutical industry. Growing demand for environmental-friendly and traceable products have stressed the need for microbial production of this amino acid. Therefore, the aim of this study was to improve arginine production in Escherichia coli by metabolic engineering and to establish a fermentation process in 1-L bioreactor scal...

Until recently, a capacity for apoptosis and synthesis of nitric oxide *NO) were viewed as exclusive to multicellular organisms. The existence of these processes in unicellular parasites was recently described, with their biological significance remaining to be elucidated. We have evaluated L-arginine metabolism in Trypanosoma cruzi in the context of human serum-induced apoptotic death. Apoptos...

The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine and their biosynthetic enzymes arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase and Sadenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase are present in all parts of dormant potato (Solamm tuberosum L.) tubers. They are equally distributed among the buds of apical and lateral regions and in nonbud tissues. However, the breaking of dormancy and initiation of spr...