title: Ascaris suum and Onchocerca volvulus: S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase.
abstract: Putrescine-dependent S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) was demonstrated in Ascaris suum and Onchocerca volvulus; activation was found to be about fourfold by putrescine. Mg2+ did not affect the enzyme activity. A. suum was taken as a model nematode and its S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was partially purified and characterized. The molecular weight was estimated to be 220,000. The apparent Km-value for adenosylmethionine was determined to be 17 microM. Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) and berenil competitively inhibited the enzyme activity; the apparent Ki-values were found to be 0.24 microM and 0.11 microM, respectively. The dependence of filarial worms on uptake and interconversion of putrescine and polyamines as well as properties of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, different from the host enzyme, points to the polyamine metabolisms as a useful target for chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Schiffs-und Tropenkrankheiten, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rathaur
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wittich
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Walter
mesh_terms: D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001200:Ascaris / Q000201:enzymology*; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D004133:Diminazene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008935:Mitoguazone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009854:Onchocerca / Q000201:enzymology*; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011700:Putrescine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D010419:Pentamidine; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; D012437:Adenosylmethionine Decarboxylase; D008274:Magnesium; C003915:diminazene aceturate; D008935:Mitoguazone; D011700:Putrescine; D004133:Diminazene