Polyamine turnover and leakage during infection of HeLa and L-cells with herpes simplex virus type 1.

Polyamine turnover has been studied in HeLa cells and L-cells during infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus multiplies 20 times more efficiently in HeLa than in L-cells. Purified HSV-1 grown in HeLa cells contained spermidine and spermine. Spermine was confined to the nucleocapsid, as reported elsewhere, and could neutralize nearly 50% of the DNA phosphates. Synthesis of spermidine and spermine stopped soon after infection of both types of cells, as measured by changes in specific activity of cell polyamines. No further metabolism of these organic cations could be detected during infection. 80% of cell polyamines were lost rapidly from L-cells during infection with HSV-1. In contrast, infected HeLa cells lost very little polyamine. Addition of spermidine or spermine to infected cells did not increase the yield of virus, suggesting that loss of cell polyamines was not limiting production of infectious virus.     

Polyamine metabolism in MRC-5 cells infected with human cytomegalovirus

The rate of putrescine uptake into MRC-5 cells increased markedly following infection with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Enhanced incorporation occurred immediately after infection and the highest levels were attained following the production of infectious, progeny virus. Parallel kinetic changes in the utilization of radio-labelled putrescine were shown by the amounts of spermidine and spermine recovered from infected cells as radioactive derivatives. A temporal correlation was found between these changes in polyamine metabolism and the synthesis of virus DNA. Methylglyoxalbis(guanylhydrazone), an inhibitor of spermidine and spermine synthesis, did not affect virus replication if HCMV-infected cells were exposed to the inhibitor after completion of the eclipse phase of the virus growth cycle. These results show that polyamine metabolism is required only during the initial stages of HCMV replication.     

外源精脒和精胺可诱导大鼠早期再生肝抗酶的表达

目的探讨精脒和精胺对大鼠早期再生肝抗酶(AZ)表达的影响,及在肝再生中的作用。方法外源多胺(溶于0.9%NaCl)皮下注射雄性SD大鼠(180～200g),进行部分肝切除(PH)诱导。采用RT-PCR和Western blotting方法进行PH后大鼠再生肝中AZ基因转录量和蛋白表达量的分析。结果对照组完整肝脏(PH后0h)中,AZ基因转录量、蛋白表达量较低,PH后均快速升高,3h达到峰值,5h出现明显下降,7h再次升高并达到峰值,之后缓慢下降。外源多胺处理后,两种剂量精脒(0.03mg/kg和0.15mg/kg)和精胺(0.06mg/kg和6mg/kg)处理组AZ mRNA及蛋白表达水平变化趋势与对照组相似,但低剂量处理组远远低于相应时间点高剂量处理组。精胺的作用效果更明显,作用时间更持久。结论外源多胺对大鼠早期再生肝AZ mRNA及蛋白表达具有剂量依赖性促进作用,而精胺的作用较强,精脒较弱。     

The incorporation of radiolabeled polyamines and methionine into turnip yellow mosaic virus in protoplasts from infected plants

Turnip yellow mosaic virus contains large amounts of nonexchangeable spermidine and induces an accumulation of spermidine in infected Chinese cabbage. By 7 days after inoculation, a majority of protoplasts isolated from newly emerging leaves stain with fluorescent antibody to the virus. These protoplasts contain 1-2 X 10(6) virions per cell and continue to produce virus in culture for at least 48 hr. [14C]Spermidine (10 microM) was taken up by these cells in amounts comparable to the original endogenous pool within 24 hr. However, after an initial rise, the spermidine content of the cell returned to its original level, implying considerable regulation of the endogenous pool(s). Putrescine and spermine were major products of the metabolism of exogenous spermidine. Radioactivity from exogenous [14C]spermidine was also readily incorporated into the ribonucleoprotein component(s) of the virus, where it appeared as both spermidine and spermine. The specific radioactivities of the viral polyamines were approximately twice those of spermidine and spermine extracted from the whole cell. Radioactivity from [2-14C]methionine was readily incorporated into the protein, spermidine, and spermine of the virus. Again, the specific activities of these amines were substantially higher in the virus than in the whole cell. Thus, newly formed virus contained predominantly newly synthesized spermidine and spermine. However, inhibition of spermidine synthesis by dicyclohexylamine led to incorporation of preexisting spermidine and increased amounts of spermine into newly formed virus.     

Regulation of polyamine content in cultured fibroblasts

The content of putrescine and of the polyamines (spermidine and spermine) and the activities of their biosynthetic enzymes were measured in 3T3 mouse fibroblasts and SV40-transformed mouse fibroblasts over the entire period from subculturing in fresh medium until confluence. The transformed cells had a substantially higher content of putrescine and spermidine than the 3T3 cells and higher activities of all of the biosynthetic enzymes. However, the ratio of spermine synthase to spermidine synthase was higher in the 3T3 cells, which correlated with their higher spermine-to-spermidine ratio. All of the biosynthetic enzymes increased in activity during cell growth. Ornithine decarboxylase increased 20-fold with a maximum at 24-36 h after culturing whereas S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase increased 3-fold at the same time. Spermidine synthase increased 10- to 16-fold during the growth period whereas spermine synthase increased 2- to 3-fold. The relative enzyme activities and the changes in total polyamine content suggested that 1) the activity of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase limited the production of the polyamines and 2) the relative amounts of spermidine and spermine synthase determined the predominant polyamine that the available decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine is used to synthesize. When 3T3 cells become quiescent at confluence, there was a substantial fall in the intracellular spermidine level because of a greatly increased excretion of spermidine into the medium. Spermine content also fell because there was an increased conversion of spermine into spermidine, which was then excreted. The specific excretion of spermidine did not occur with the transformed SV-3T3 cells.     

Polyamine metabolism in cells infected with herpes simplex virus.

Ifection of LS cells with HSV-1 resulted in an inhibition of spermidine and spermine synthesis from putrescine, possibly through inhibition of host cell protein synthesis. The rate of putrescine uptake increased soon after infection, and later, polyamines were lost from the cells. Inhibition of spermidine and spermine synthesis by methylglyoxal bis (amidinohydrazone) did not affect virus replication.     

The effect of citrate and polyamines on human benign prostate in organ culture

A technique for short-term cultivation of slices of human benign prostate tissue in an organ culture environment is described. Minimum essential medium utilized was supplemented with 10 percent fetal bovine serum and 25 mg/mL of citrate, spermine, and spermidine. Spermine in the presence of testosterone in the culture medium induced morphological changes, enhancing the morphology of the tissue. The epithelium was well preserved morphologically. Citrate or spermidine together with testosterone does not enhance any morphological change. After seven days of culture, necrosis was developed. The spent culture medium showed a pattern of prostatic acid phosphatase production. When treated with spermine, the maximum level was reached at four days, after which it decreased. With spermidine or citrate, the maximum level is reached at two days of culture. Tissue β-glucuronidase activity was enhanced by either spermidine, spermine, or citrate together with testosterone. The biochemical studies suggested that explants of human benign prostate can be well maintained in organ culture for a few days.     

The effect of polyamines on herpes simplex virus type 1 DNA polymerase purified from infected baby hamster kidney cells (BHK-21/C13)

The DNA polymerase whose synthesis is directed by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) DNA was purified 545-fold from BHK-21/C13 cells 16 h after infection with the virus. Spermidine and spermine stimulated the activity of the polymerase over the concentration range 0.5 mM to 2.5 mM. This effect was enhanced with increased concentrations of polyamine, maximum stimulation being threefold and fourfold for spermidine and spermine respectively. The diamine, putrescine, had little effect on the enzyme at the concentrations used (0.25 to 1.25 mM).     

The effects of dicyclohexylamine on polyamine biosynthesis and incorporation into turnip yellow mosaic virus in Chinese cabbage protoplasts infected in vitro

We have reported (R. Balint and S. S. Cohen, 1985, Virology 144, 181-193) that protoplasts from plants infected with turnip yellow mosaic virus (TYMV) continue to produce virus in culture and that newly formed virus particles contained predominantly newly synthesized spermidine and spermine. Inhibition of spermidine synthesis by dicyclohexylamine (DCHA), however, led to incorporation of preexisting spermidine and increased amounts of spermine into newly formed virions. We now report similar results with healthy protoplasts infected in vitro, in which essentially all of the virus is newly formed. Again, newly synthesized spermidine and spermine were preferentially incorporated into virus. DCHA inhibited spermidine synthesis by 85%, leading in 20 hr to a 60% depletion of the cellular spermidine and a 30% reduction in the amount of spermidine per virion. Spermine synthesis increased, however, producing a 40% increase in cellular spermine and 50-100% increase in the amount of spermine per virion. Thus, in spite of spermidine depletion, the total positive charge contributed by polyamines to the virus was essentially conserved.     

Endogenous polyamines modulate Ca2+ channel activity in guinea-pig intestinal smooth muscle

The polyamines spermine and spermidine inhibit L-type Ca2+ channels in whole-cell recordings from guinea-pig ileum cells (Gomez and Hellstrand, Pflügers Arch, 430:501-507, 1995 [4]). To study whether they modulate channel activity under physiological conditions, we further investigated their actions on Ca2+ channels and the effects of altered cellular polyamine contents. In inside-out patches, spermine (0.1-1 mM) inhibited channel activity without affecting the amplitude of unitary currents. In cell-attached recordings, addition of spermine to the bath did not influence channel activity in the patch, indicating that its extracellular action is direct and not mediated via passage of the polyamine through the cell membrane. Cellular contents of spermidine and spermine were decreased by about 50% by organ culture of ileum strips for 5 days with the adenosylmethionine decarboxylase inhibitor CGP 48664 (10 microM). This caused enhanced channel activity in cell-attached recordings, suggesting a reduced level of channel block by endogenous polyamines compared with control cells. Whole-cell recordings in the perforated patch mode showed increased current in polyamine-depleted cells, while this was not seen when cells were dialysed with the pipette solution. We conclude that polyamines block Ca2+ channels from the inside as well as the outside of the cell membrane, and that endogenous polyamines in smooth muscle modulate Ca2+ channel activity.     

Polyamine changes during senescence and tumorogenesis in plants

Putrescine, spermidine, spermine and two unknowns designated as A and B were detected in first seedling leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Wolfe). The levels of these polyamines in first seedling leaves from 4-day-old barley plants grown in darkness or in light were comparable and did not change significantly after exposure of dark grown plants to light for 24 h. No significant consistent changes in the amounts of above polyamines, except perhaps decline in spermidine, were noted during senescence of intact or excised first seedling leaves of barley and this spermidine decline was suppressed during retardation of senescence of excised leaves by 10 mg/l kinetin in the dark. In addition, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, cadaverine and diaminopropane (0.2 mM, 1 mM, 10 mM) had no effect on senescence of excised barley leaves in the dark and both spermine and spermidine induced bleaching of the leaves in the light. Both spermine and spermidine (approx. 10 mM) inhibited RNase and DNase activities but stimulated phosphodiesterase activity (assayed with bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate as substrate) in crude soluble extracts from barley leaves. Purified snake venom phosphodiesterase activity assayed with RNA as substrate was, however, stimulated by 300-400% by 7-14 mM spermine or spermidine indicating similar possibilities for barley phosphodiesterase. These results together with the presence of multiple species of these enzymes and a decline in net soluble RNase and DNase activities during senescence in barley leaves reported previously, make it unlikely that inhibition of RNase activity in vitro by polyamines could be correlated with their effect on senescence. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine were detected in normal and crown gall tumor tissue cultures of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum var Wisconsin 38) and in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected freshly excised pith tissue from tobacco which represented non-proliferating tissue. The level of all three polyamines was several-fold higher in cultured tissues compared to the non-dividing freshly excised pith tissue and the tumor cultures had several-fold higher spermidine and putrescine respectively compared to normal tissue cultures. These results indicate high levels of polyamines in growing tissues but no consistent pivotal changes in polyamines during senescence. The results also do not support polyamines being natural anti-senescent compounds in plants or that their anti-senescent compounds effect could result from inhibition of RNase activity.     

Polyamines stimulate the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol in rat mast cell granules

Rat mast cell granules were obtained by homogenization of highly purified rat mast cells and isolated in a Percoll gradient. Diphosphoinositide (DPI) synthesis in rat mast cell granules was assayed by measuring the incorporation of 32P from [gamma 32] ATP into DPI in the absence of exogenous phosphatidylinositol (PI). Lipids were isolated with methanol/chloroform/HCl and were separated by thin-layer chromatography on oxalic acid impregnated silica gel plates. DPI areas were identified by staining with iodine, scraped and measured for 32P radioactivity. The addition of polyamines, spermine and spermidine to the granules caused an increase in DPI synthesis, which can be catalyzed by PI kinase. This effect of polyamines on DPI synthesis in the rat mast cell granules was dose-dependent and maximal effects were observed at 1 mM spermine and 10 mM spermidine respectively. When the effect of 1 mM spermine on 32P incorporation into DPI in rat mast cell granules was investigated serially, 32P incorporation into DPI in rat mast cell granules incubated with spermine for 15 min was enhanced significantly (p less than 0.05) compared with that in the granules in the absence of spermine.     

Polyamine metabolism in filarial worms

The human and animal filarial parasites Onchocerca volvulus, Dirofilaria immitis, Brugia patei and Litomosoides carinii contained low levels of putrescine but much higher levels of spermidine and spermine as estimated by ion-pair high pressure liquid chromatography; N-acetylated polyamines were present only in minute amounts. Enzyme activities of ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) and arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19), respectively, were not detectable. Experiments carried out with O. volvulus and D. immitis demonstrated the uptake and bioconversion of labeled polyamines. There is evidence for the existence of a complete reverse pathway generating putrescine from spermidine and spermine, respectively, in both worms. N-Acetylating enzyme activities were detected in 100,000 X g preparations of homogenates from D. immitis which were capable to acetylate putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Long term incubation of the worms in the presence of labeled polyamines resulted in the excretion of putrescine and N-acetylputrescine.     

The Effects of Polyamines on the Immunogenicity of Polynucleotides

Polyamines—putrescine, spermidine, and spermine—are small organic cations that are present in all living cells. Recent studies revealed that polyamines could provoke a left-handed Z-DNA conformation in poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) and related alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences. In order to examine whether polyamine-induced Z-DNA conformation of poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) is capable of eliciting anti-Z-DNA antibodies, we immunized rabbits with poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) in the presence and absence of spermidine and spermine. Rabbits immunized with the polynucleotide alone produced antibodies reacting toward poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) and heat-denatured calf thymus DNA (ssDNA). In contrast, immunization with poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) complexed with spermidine or spermine produced antibodies reacting with Z-DNA in addition to those binding toward poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT) and ssDNA. Antibodies elicited by polynucleotide polyamine complexes had no reactivity toward polyamines. Solution inhibition studies suggested that anti-poly(dA-dC).poly(dG-dT), anti-ssDNA and anti-Z-DNA antibodies are distinct populations that favor each one of these antigens. Our results suggest that natural polyamines are capable of altering the immunogenicity of polynucleotides by mechanisms involving the stabilization of Z-DNA conformation. This result may have implications in the recent findings of high levels of polyamines and anti-Z-DNA antibodies in the sera of lupus patients and autoimmune mice.     

Effects of polyamines on the mechanical and electrical activities of the isolated circular muscle of rat uterus

Effects of polyamines (0.05-1.2 mM) on the mechanical and electrical activities in the circular muscles of pre-(day 20 of pregnancy) and post-partum (10-15 h after delivery) rat myometria were studied. In the prepartum preparations, spermine and spermidine, added to the Mg-free Krebs solution, depressed contractions in a dose-dependent manner, whereas cadaverine and putrescine potentiated them. The latter agents depressed contractions when preparations were treated with indomethacin. Plateau potentials were spontaneously generated in the Mg-free solution in the prepartum circular muscle. The duration of the plateau became shorter, and spike potentials supermounted on the plateau potential were depressed when spermine or spermidine was applied. In the postpartum preparations, spike activity was depressed by spermine and spermidine. In both pre- and post-partum preparations, the membrane activity was little affected by cadaverine and putrescine. In view of the above findings, it was hypothesized that polyamines in general took the place of divalent cations in causing membrane stabilization. Cadaverine and putrescine probably caused a potentiation of contraction by stimulating the synthesis of endogenous prostaglandins.     

Essential role of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in mouse embryonic development

BACKGROUND: S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) is one of the key enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of spermidine and spermine, which are essential for normal cell growth. To examine the role of polyamines in embryogenesis, we carried out targeted disruption of the mouse Amd1 gene, encoding AdoMetDC, to generate mice that can not synthesize spermidine and spermine. RESULTS: Amd1 heterozygous mice were viable, normal and fertile. However, homozygous Amd1(-/-) embryos died early in embryonic development, between E3.5 and E6.5 days post-coitus. Homozygous (Amd1(-/-)) blastocysts at E3.5 arrested cell proliferation immediately after the onset of cell culture, and this arrest was rescued by the addition of spermidine. Chromosomal DNA breakage did not occur in Amd1(-/-) blastocysts at E3.5, as determined by TUNEL assay. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that AdoMetDC plays an essential role in embryonic development and that polyamines are required for cell proliferation in the embryo after E3.5.     

Polyamines increase in sympathetic neurons and non-neuronal cells after axotomy and enhance neurite outgrowth in nerve growth factor-primed PC12 cells

Following axonal damage, sympathetic neurons are capable of regenerating and reinnervating their target tissues. Some years ago exogenous administration of polyamines was shown to enhance this regeneration. Recently, it was found that axonal injury leads to a dramatic up-regulation of the expression of arginase I in sympathetic neurons. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of arginine to ornithine, which can subsequently be converted to the diamine putrescine and, ultimately, to the polyamines spermidine and spermine. In the present study, using an antiserum that reacts with both spermidine and spermine, we have found an increase in polyamine levels in both neurons and non-neuronal cells in the superior cervical ganglion 2 and 5 days following transection of the ganglion's postganglionic trunks. Using PC12 cells primed with nerve growth factor and then stripped off the culture dish and replated as a model system for axotomized sympathetic neurons, we found that spermidine treatment, with or without nerve growth factor, resulted in an increased percentage of cells with a neurite whose length was at least twice the diameter of the neuron's cell body. These increases could be seen within 48 h and were still evident after 8 days. Together, these data support the possibility that endogenous polyamines are involved in the normal regeneration which occurs following sympathetic axonal damage.     

Oxidative metabolites are involved in polyamine-induced microglial cell death

Pathological activation of microglia, which reside quiescently in physiological CNS, is associated with various neurodegenerative diseases. Endogenous polyamines, spermidine and spermine, are known to be activators of cell proliferation and differentiation. We previously reported that both spermidine and spermine induce dose-dependent cell death in cultured rat brain microglia at a submicromolar concentration range via apoptotic process, whereas cultured astrocytes were less sensitive to these polyamines [Neuroscience 120 (2003) 961]. These polyamine effects were observed only in the presence of fetal bovine serum. In the present study we examined further the mechanism of polyamine-induced microglial cell death. Amine oxidase in fetal bovine serum produces hydrogen peroxide and an aminoaldehyde from spermine, and the latter generates acrolein spontaneously. Acrolein was found to be much more toxic to microglia than to astrocytes and the effective concentration of acrolein was similar to that of spermine, whereas hydrogen peroxide was marginally toxic. Aminoguanidine, an inhibitor of amine oxidase, blocked the toxic effects of spermine on microglia. Spermine cytotoxicity was also prevented by antioxidant reagents; glutathione (reduced form), cysteine, and N-acetylcysteine. These results suggest that polyamine-induced apoptotic cell death of microglia is triggered by an oxidative stress with acrolein, which is produced by amine oxidase from polyamine. The different toxicities of polyamine between two glial cells may regulate the balance of glial activation in some pathological conditions of CNS.     

Polyamines stimulate the phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol in rat mast cell granules

Rat mast cell granules were obtained by homogenization of highly purified rat mast cells and isolated in a Percoll gradient. Diphosphoinositide (DPI) synthesis in rat mast cell granules was assayed by measuring the incorporation of 32P from [gamma 32P] ATP into DPI in the absence of exogenous phosphatidylinositol (PI). Lipids were isolated with methanol/chloroform/HCl and were separated by thin-layer chromatography on oxalic acid impregnated silica gel plates. DPI areas were identified by staining with iodine, scraped and measured for 32P radioactivity. The addition of polyamines, spermine and spermidine, to the granules caused an increase of DPI synthesis, which can be catalyzed by PI kinase. This effect of polyamines in the DPI synthesis was in a dose-dependent manner and maximal effects were observed at 1 mM spermine and 10 mM spermidine, respectively.