title: Transgenic mice over-expressing the human spermidine synthase gene.
abstract: We have generated a transgenic mouse line harbouring the functional (chromosome-1-derived) human spermidine synthase (EC 2.5.1.16) gene in their genome. The transgenic animals expressed the human gene-derived mRNA, as revealed by reverse-transcriptase/PCR analysis, in all tissues studied and displayed tissue spermidine synthase activity that was 2-6 times that in their syngenic littermates. The elevated spermidine synthase activity, however, had virtually no effect on tissue putrescine, spermidine or spermine levels. The view that the accumulation of spermidine and spermine is possibly controlled by S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase was further supported by the finding that tissue spermidine and spermine contents also remained practically normal in hybrid transgenic mice over-expressing both human ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kauppinen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Myöhänen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halmekytö
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alhonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jänne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011700:Putrescine / Q000378:metabolism; D013095:Spermidine / Q000378:metabolism; D011436:Spermidine Synthase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013096:Spermine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D013096:Spermine; D011436:Spermidine Synthase; D013095:Spermidine; D011700:Putrescine