title: Synthesis and content of polyamines in bloodstream Trypanosma brucei.
abstract: The sensitive dansyl procedure was used to detect putrescine and spermidine, but not spermine and cadaverine, in pleomorphic Trypanosoma brucei. The polyamines were synthesized in vitro from [3H]ornithine, [14C]arginine and [14C]methionine. Proline, agmatine, and citrulline, but not glutamine, glutamic or pyroglutamic acids, stimulated spermidine formation from [4C]methionine. Putrescine and sperimidine synthesis occurred rapidly from ornithine: putrescine synthesis peaked in 0.5 h, spermidine in 1 h. Trypanosoma brucei assimilated exogenous 14C-labeled putrescine, spermidine, and spermine; spermidine and spermine were taken up 5 times as rapidly as putrescine. Polyamine syntheses may therefore be a practical target for novel trypanocies.
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D008715:Methionine / Q000378:metabolism; D009952:Ornithine / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013095:Spermidine / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D001120:Arginine; D008715:Methionine; D009952:Ornithine; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine