title: Studies on polyamine biosynthesis in Euglena gracilis.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D005056:Euglena gracilis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013095:Spermidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013096:Spermine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; C017921:norspermine; C006760:norspermidine; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase; D013095:Spermidine