title: Altered polyamine metabolism in the PRO/Re strain of inbred mice.
abstract: The PRO/Re strain of inbred mice are characterized by abnormally high concentrations of proline in both blood (hyperprolinaemia) and urine (prolinuria). They excrete increased amounts of polyamines in their urine. Male PRO/Re mice excreted putrescine at 175% and spermidine at 300% the amount of male C57BL/6J controls. Female PRO/Re mice excreted putrescine at 115% and spermidine at 150% of the amount in the urine of female controls. Examination of the enzymes involved in polyamine biosynthesis revealed that ornithine decarboxylase, the initial enzyme in the polyamine-biosynthetic pathway, was increased by 150% in the kidneys and by 100% in the liver of male PRO/Re mice. There was no significant difference between PRO/Re and C57BL/6J male mice for either putrescine- or spermidine-stimulated S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity. Female PRO/Re mice showed no significant difference from female C57BL/6J mice for any of the enzymes examined. When the concentrations of the polyamines in the tissues of the PRO/Re mice were determined, spermidine and spermine concentrations in the kidneys of the male PRO/Re mice were twice those of the controls. Spermidine concentration in the livers of both male and female PRO/Re mice was approx. 130% that of the controls. Polyamine concentrations in the brains were similar in controls and mutants. The increased polyamine biosynthesis and excretion in the PRO/Re mutant mice may be a mechanism to decrease the extent of proline accumulation.
mesh_terms: D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D011073:Polyamines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011700:Putrescine / Q000652:urine; D013095:Spermidine / Q000652:urine; D013096:Spermine / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines; D013096:Spermine; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase; D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine