Recent advances in the molecular biology of metazoan polyamine transport

• Published in: Amino acids Vol. 42; no. 2-3; pp. 711 - 723
• Main Authors: Poulin, R., Casero, R. A., Soulet, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.02.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Amino acids; Analytical Chemistry; Animals; Biochemical Engineering; Biochemistry; Biogenic Polyamines - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Encoding; Life Sciences; Minireview Article; Molecular biology; Neurobiology; Pictures; Polyamines; Proteins; Proteomics; Substrate Specificity; Transport; Permeases; DNA cloning; Vesicular transport; Polyamines; Membrane transport
• ISSN: 0939-4451; 1438-2199
• DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-0987-y

Very limited molecular knowledge exists about the identity and protein components of the ubiquitous polyamine transporters found in animal cells. However, a number of reports have been published over the last 5 years on potential candidates for metazoan polyamine permeases. We review the available evidence on these putative polyamine permeases, as well as establish a useful «identikit picture» of the general polyamine transport system, based on its properties as found in a wide spectrum of mammalian cells. Any molecular candidate encoding a putative «general» polyamine permease should fit that provided portrait. The current models proposed for the mechanism of polyamine internalization in mammalian cells are also briefly reviewed.