Studies on polyamine biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta Vol. 565; no. 1; pp. 199 - 207
• Main Authors: Aleksijevic, A, Grove, J, Schuber, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 22.11.1979
• Subjects: Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase - metabolism; Algae; Animals; Euglena gracilis - metabolism; Models, Chemical; Ornithine Decarboxylase - metabolism; Polyamines - biosynthesis; Spermidine - analogs & derivatives; Spermidine - biosynthesis; Spermine - analogs & derivatives; Spermine - biosynthesis
• DOI: 10.1016/0005-2787(79)90096-0
• ISSN: 0006-3002

Euglene gracilis (strain Z) was found to contain five polyamines which could be separated by high-pressure cation-exchange chromatography. 1,3-Diaminopropane, putrescine, norspermidine (N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane), spermidine and norspermine (N,N'-bis(aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane) were identified. Biosynthesis of putrescine in E. gracilis proceeds through decarboxylation of L-ornithine, no arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19) activity could be detected. The properties of the enzymes ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) in this alga were found to be similar to those of the enzymes isolated from animal tissues or yeast cells. A bioxynthetic scheme is proposed which relates the different polyamines occurring in E. gracilis.