STUDIES ON POLYAMINE BIOSYNTHESIS IN EUGLENA-GRACILIS

Euglene gracilis (strain Z) was found to contain five polyamines which could be separated by high-pressure cation-exchange chromatography. 1,3-Diaminopropane, putrescine, norspermidine (N-(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane), spermidine and norspermine (N,N′-bis(aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane) were identified. Biosynthesis of putrescine in E. gracilis proceeds through decarboxylation of l-ornithine, no arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19) activity could be detected. The properties of the enzymes ornithine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.17) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.50) in this alga were found to be similar to those of the enzymes isolated from animal tissues or yeast cells. A biosynthetic scheme is proposed which relates the different polyamines occurring in E. gracilis. © 1979.