Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans
Published on: June 25, 2013
Polyamine-mediated post-transcriptional regulation of COX-2
Michele Taylor Parker1, Eugene W Gerner
1Cancer Biology Interdisciplinary Graduate Program, Arizona Cancer Center, The University of Arizona, 1515 N Campbell Avenue, P O Box 245024, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA.
Abstract:
Polyamines are involved in various cellular processes including embryonic development, cell growth and cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis. Growing evidence suggests the importance of RNA processing and stability mediated by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in the development of cancer. Polyamines, which are found to be increased in neoplastic cells and tissues compared to normal, bind to RNA to influence its structure and function. Polyamines mediate RNA processing through the spermidine-regulated protein, eIF-5A. To further investigate how polyamines influence RNA expression, we characterized the polyamine-dependent RNA expression of a cancer-related gene, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which contains eIF-5A consensus binding elements. Depletion of polyamines by DL-alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) treatment caused an induction of COX-2 mRNA steady-state levels. Polyamines appear to regulate expression of COX-2 by a post-transcriptional mechanism.
Related Concept Videos
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
Cell Specific Gene Expression
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
Regulation of Expression at Multiple Steps

