Cell Communication and Signaling volume 21 , Article number: Cite this article. Metrics details. Polyamines are essential for the growth and proliferation of mammalian cells and are intimately involved in biological mechanisms such as DNA replication, RNA transcription, protein synthesis, and post-translational modification. These mechanisms regulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, and the formation of tumors.
Several studies have confirmed the positive effect of polyamines on the maintenance of health, while others have demonstrated that their activity may promote the occurrence and progression of diseases. This review examines a variety of topics, such as polyamine source and metabolism, including metabolism, transport, and the potential impact of polyamines on health and disease.
In addition, a brief summary of the effects of oncogenes and signaling pathways on tumor polyamine metabolism is provided. Polyamines, which are small polycationic compounds with a positive charge, are found in all types of living cells, including those of mammals, plants, and prokaryotes [ 1 ].
It is well known that there are three primary types of polyamines present in mammalian cells: putrescine Put , spermidine Spd , and spermine Spm. The discovery of polyamines, specifically spermidine and spermine, dates back to when Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made the initial observation [ 2 ]. Throughout the twentieth century, their structure was characterized and their biosynthetic pathway was determined as a result of ongoing research [ 3 ]. Although all eukaryotic cells are capable of synthesizing the three major polyamines, polyamines can also be obtained through diet and other alternative sources [ 4 ], including intestinal bacteria.
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In addition, polyamines are essential for the growth and proliferation of mammalian cells and are intricately linked to biological processes, such as replication, transcription, translation, and post-translational modification, which modulate cellular proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis [ 4 , 5 ]. Briefly, polyamines within mammalian cells are irreplaceable, as the depletion of polyamines will completely halt cell growth and proliferation.
