M.

Prasad Naidu
MSc Medical Biochemistry, Ph.D,.

Possess multiple amino groups
Putrescine, spermine & spermidine are
biologically imp
Spermine & spermidine were detected in
human semen (sperm) hence the name
Precursors: Ornithine & SAM ( only the four
carbon moiety but not CH
3
)
Ornithine decarboxylase splits off CO
2
and
produce Putrescine
Ornithine decarboxylase has the shortest
half life ( 10 min) among the mammalian
enzymes
It regulates polyamine synthesis
Activators: corticosteroids, testosterone, GH
Polyamine oxidase of liver peroxisomes
oxidizes spermine to spermidine and then to
putrescine
Spemidine and putrescine are excreted in
urine in a conjugated form, as acetylated
derivatives
Some amount of putrescine is also oxidized
to NH
3
and CO
2
Basic in nature
Possess multiple positive charges
Hence they are readily associated
with nucleic acids
Synthesis of DNA & RNA and
proteins
Essential for cell growth &
proliferation
Some enzymes are inhibited by
polyamines ( protein kinase)
Stabilization of membrane structure
(cell and cellular organelles)

The excretion of Polyamines is found to be
elevated in almost all types of cancers
Eg: leukemias; carcinoma of lungs, bladder,
kidney
Diagnostically putrescine is an ideal marker
for cell proliferation
Spermidine is suitable for the assessment of
cell destruction