The Natural Polyamine Spermine Functions Directly as a Free Radical Scavenger

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 95; no. 19; pp. 11140 - 11145
• Main Authors: Ha, Hyo Chol, Sirisoma, Nilantha S., Kuppusamy, Periannan, Zweier, Jay L., Woster, Patrick M., Casero, Robert A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 15.09.1998; National Acad Sciences; National Academy of Sciences; The National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: Adducts; Azides - chemistry; Biochemistry; Biological Sciences; Cell Nucleus - chemistry; Copper - metabolism; Cyclic N-Oxides - metabolism; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA damage; DNA Damage - genetics; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Free radical scavengers; Free Radical Scavengers - metabolism; Free radicals; Gels; Hydroxyl Radical - metabolism; Hydroxyl radicals; Ions; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mass Spectrometry; Mass spectroscopy; Molecular biology; Molecular Structure; Plasmids - metabolism; Polyamines; Reactive oxygen species; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Spectroscopy; Spermine - physiology
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.95.19.11140

The polyamines are small organic cations that are absolutely required for eukaryotic cell growth. Although their growth requirements are well established, the molecular functions of the polyamines are ill-defined. Oxidative damage to DNA by reactive oxygen species is a continual problem that cells must guard against to survive. The polyamine spermine, which is normally found in millimolar concentrations in the nucleus, is shown here to function directly as a free radical scavenger, and adducts formed as a result of this function are identified. These data suggest that spermine is a major natural intracellular compound capable of protecting DNA from free radical attack.