The
polyamines are organic compounds, such as
putrescine,
spermidine[?], and
spermine[?], that are growth factors in both eucaryotic and procaryotic cells. They are synthesized in cells in pathways that are very highly regulated. The actual function of these compounds is not entirely clear. As cations, they do bind to
DNA, and structurally, they represent compounds with cations that are found at
regularly spaced intervals (unlike, say, Mg
++ or Ca
++, which are point charges).
Note: insert structures here
If synthesis of polyamines are blocked, then cell growth is stopped or profoundly slowed. The provision of exogenous polyamines restores the growth of these cells.
Further information
- Polyamines in cell cyle proliferation and cell death
- http://www.biol.lu.se/zoofysiol/Cellprolif/Research/research_area_1.html