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Published on: June 21, 2014
Polyamines and nucleic acids during development of the chick embryo
C M Caldarera1, B Barbiroli, G Moruzzi
1Istituto di Chimica Biologica dell' Università di Bologna, Italy.
Insights
Chick embryo development shows increased polyamines and nucleic acids. Manipulating polyamine levels with spermine or iproniazid impacts amine oxidase activity and nucleic acid concentrations, revealing regulatory mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Polyamines, including spermine and spermidine, are crucial for cell growth and differentiation.
- Nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) are fundamental to genetic information and protein synthesis.
- The interplay between polyamines and nucleic acids during embryonic development is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of polyamines in chick embryo development.
- To examine the effects of exogenous spermine and amine oxidase inhibition on polyamine and nucleic acid levels.
- To elucidate the regulatory relationship between polyamines and nucleic acids during embryogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of polyamines (spermine, spermidine, putrescine, cadaverine) and nucleic acids (RNA, DNA) in developing chick embryos.
- In ovo injection of spermine and/or iproniazid (an amine oxidase inhibitor) into chick embryos.
- Assay of amine oxidase activity following experimental manipulations.
Main Results:
- Polyamines and nucleic acids increased significantly between days 5 and 10 of chick embryo incubation.
- Spermine injection led to decreased polyamine and nucleic acid levels, with increased free nucleotides.
- Iproniazid administration inhibited amine oxidase, increasing polyamine and nucleic acid levels while decreasing free nucleotides.
- Combined spermine and iproniazid treatment resulted in elevated polyamine and nucleic acid concentrations.
Conclusions:
- Polyamines play a significant role in regulating nucleic acid metabolism during chick embryo development.
- Amine oxidase activity is a key factor in controlling intracellular polyamine levels.
- The balance between polyamines and nucleic acids is critical for normal embryonic growth.
Abstract:
1. A higher concentration of polyamines (spermine, spermidine, putrescine and cadaverine) during development of the chick embryo was observed between the fifth and tenth day of incubation; the concentrations of nucleic acids showed a parallel increase. 2. When spermine (5mumoles) was injected into the yolk sac of embryos at the tenth day of incubation, a high amine-oxidase activity was noted and the spermine and spermidine concentrations were decreased; also, there was a remarkable decrease in RNA and DNA concentrations and a parallel increase in that of total free nucleotides. 3. On the other hand, when iproniazid (16mumoles) was injected there was an inhibition of amine-oxidase activity and a similar increase in the concentrations of spermine and spermidine and of nucleic acids, whereas that of total free nucleotides decreased. 4. Another group of embryos injected with spermine and iproniazid together showed a remarkable increase in spermine and spermidine concentrations and a parallel increase in those of RNA and DNA, and a decrease in that of total free nucleotides.
