Polyamine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The polyamines are organic compounds having two or more primary amino groups - such as putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine, and spermine - that are growth factors in both eucaryotic and procaryotic cells. Though it is seen that polyamines are synthesized in cells via highly-regulated pathways, their actual function is not entirely clear. As cations, they do bind to DNA, and, in structure, they represent compounds with cations that are found at regularly-spaced intervals (unlike, say, Mg++ or Ca++, which are point charges).
If synthesis of polyamines is blocked, then cell growth is stopped or profoundly slowed. The provision of exogenous polyamines restores the growth of these cells. Most eukaryotic cells have a polyamine transporter system on their surface that facilitates the internalization of exogenous polyamines. This system is highly active in rapidly proliferating cells and is the target of some chemotherapeutics currently under development.[1]
Polyamines are also important modulators of a variety of ion channels, including NMDA receptors, AMPA receptors, and Inward-rectifier potassium ion channels.
Cyclen is the main representative of a class of cyclic polyamines. Polyethylene amine is a polymer based on aziridine monomer.
[edit] External links
Abscisic acid - Auxins - Cytokinins - Ethylene (Ethene) - Gibberellins
Brassinosteroids - Jasmonates - Polyamine - Salicylic acid
