Physiological role of polyamines and regulation of their cellular contents

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Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) play important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation. The physiological role of polyamines and regulation of their cellular contents were examined. 1) Five genes were identified as members of "polyamine modulon", whose expression is enhanced by polyamines at the level of translation, and were involved in maintenance of cell viability in Escherichia coli. 2) For elucidation of the role of polyamines on neural functions, spermine and ifenprodil binding sites on R domains of NMDA receptors were identified and the structural change of R domains by binding of these compounds were elucidated. Acrolein, a polyamine metabolite, was found to be involved in neurodegeneration after stroke. Mechanisms of cell toxicity of acrolein were examined. 4) Physiological role of two putrescine transport systems were clarified in E. coli.