title: Polyamine metabolism revisited.
abstract: The natural polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine play an essential role in cell growth and differentiation. Cellular polyamine depletion results in inhibition of growth, whereas its accumulation appears to be toxic. Intracellular levels of polyamines are regulated by a multitude of mechanisms affecting their synthesis, degradation, uptake and excretion. The three key enzymes in the regulation of polyamine metabolism have short half-lives and are inducible. Ornithine and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylases regulate polyamine biosynthesis whereas spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase regulates polyamine interconvertion and degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Urdiales
authors.lastname: Medina MA
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Jiménez
mesh_terms: D004064:Digestive System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011073:Polyamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011073:Polyamines