Many tumor cells, including murine ADJ/PC6 plasmacytoma cells, possess an active energy dependent polyamine uptake system which selectively accumulates endogenous polyamines and structurally related compounds. We have attempted to target the cytotoxic drug chlorambucil to a tumor possessing this uptake system by conjugating it to the polyamine spermidine. Furthermore, since polyamines have a hi...

Over the past three decades the metabolism and functions of the polyamines have been actively pursued as targets for antineoplastic therapy. Interactions between cationic polyamines and negatively charged nucleic acids play a pivotal role in DNA stabilization and RNA processing that may affect gene expression, translation and protein activity. Our growing understanding of the unique roles that ...

BACKGROUND In this study, it was aimed to investigate the relationship between diabetes and breast cancer and the detection of enzymes and ornithine levels in polyamine synthesis pathway in diabetes, breast cancer and diabetic breast cancer patients. METHODS Ornithine, arginine decarboxylase, ornithine decarboxylase and agmatinase levels have been measured in serum of all groups. Ornithine le...

The combination of inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamine oxidase and of antibiotics suitable for the (partial) decontamination of the gastrointestinal tract with a polyamine-deficient diet reduced the growth rate of Lewis lung carcinoma by more than 80%. The formation of lung metastases was prevented by 70 to 100%, depending on the treatment. The reduction of tumor growth was acco...

Spider venoms constitute incredibly diverse libraries of compounds, many of which are involved in prey capture and defence. Polyamines are often prevalent in the venom and target ionotropic glutamate receptors. Here we show that a novel spider polyamine, PA366, containing a hydroxyphenyl-based structure is present in the venom of several species of tarantula, and has selective toxicity against ...

The effect of the polyamine oxidase (PAO)-polyamine system on some helminths was examined in vitro. Both Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula and Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae were highly sensitive to this system, the latter more so than the former. In contrast, exsheathed third-stage larvae of Nematospiroides dubius were resistant to the effects of the PAO-polyamine system. After incubation o...

Ca2+-permeable AMPARs are inwardly rectifying due to block by intracellular polyamines. Neuronal activity regulates polyamine synthesis, yet whether this affects Ca2+-AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission is unknown. We test whether 4 hr of increased visual stimulation regulates glutamatergic retino-tectal synapses in Xenopus tadpoles. Tectal neurons containing Ca2+-AMPARs form a gradient along ...

The gene encoding ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) from Ustilago maydis was cloned. A conserved PCR product amplified from U. maydis DNA was synthesized and used to screen a genomic library of the fungus. Alignment of its deduced protein sequence with those of other cloned ODCs showed a high degree of homology. Gene replacement was obtained by removal of a central part of the gene and insertion of...

The polyamines are low molecular mass aliphatic amines that can be synthesized by both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. The most common are putrescine, spermidhe and spermine (Fig. I ). The intracellular concentrations of these polyamines vary greatly with the proliferative status of the cell, and also in response to a wide variety of stimuli [ 1-31, Induction of polyamine biosynthesis, a deli...