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Treatment of cells with the polyamine analog N, N11-diethylnorspermine retards S phase progression within one cell

K Alm1, P S Berntsson, D L Kramer

  • 1Department of Animal Physiology, Lund University, Sweden; Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Grace Cancer Drug Center, Buffalo, New York, USA. Kersti.Alm@zoofys.lu.se

European Journal of Biochemistry
|June 24, 2000
PubMed

Insights

The spermine analog N1,N11-diethylnorspermine (DENSPM) inhibits polyamine biosynthesis, delaying S phase progression in Chinese hamster ovary cells. This study reveals S phase as the first cell cycle phase impacted by DENSPM.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Polyamine biosynthesis is crucial for cell proliferation.
  • Spermine analogs can disrupt normal polyamine metabolism.
  • Understanding polyamine analog effects on cell cycle is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the cell cycle kinetics of Chinese hamster ovary cells treated with N1,N11-diethylnorspermine (DENSPM).
  • To determine the specific cell cycle phase affected by DENSPM-induced inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis.

Main Methods:

  • Cell counting to assess proliferation.
  • Bromodeoxyuridine/flow cytometry to analyze cell cycle progression.
  • Measurement of intracellular polyamine pools (putrescine, spermidine, spermine).

Main Results:

  • DENSPM treatment inhibited cell proliferation, with effects apparent by day 2.
  • DENSPM did not affect G1 progression or the G1/S transition.
  • A delay in S phase, indicated by increased DNA synthesis time, was the first observed cell cycle effect.
  • G2/M transition remained unaffected.
  • DENSPM inhibited transient increases in putrescine, spermidine, and spermine pools within 24 hours.

Conclusions:

  • The S phase is the first cell cycle phase affected by DENSPM-induced polyamine biosynthesis inhibition.
  • G1 phase was affected before G2/M phase at later time points.
  • DENSPM provides a tool to study the role of polyamines in cell cycle regulation.

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