Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways01:29

Amino Acid Biosynthetic Pathways

Amino acid biosynthesis is essential for cell growth, protein synthesis, and metabolic regulation. Cells generate essential and non-essential amino acids from metabolic intermediates to sustain vital biological functions. These intermediates originate from key metabolic pathways: glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and the pentose phosphate pathway. Important precursors include α-ketoglutarate, pyruvate, oxaloacetate, phosphoenolpyruvate, and erythrose-4-phosphate, which provide...
Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids01:28

Biosynthesis of Nucleic Acids

Nucleic acid biosynthesis is a fundamental biochemical process that produces the purine and pyrimidine nucleotides essential for DNA and RNA synthesis. This pathway maintains a balanced nucleotide pool, preventing imbalances that could jeopardize genetic integrity and cellular function. Given the crucial role of nucleotides, their synthesis is tightly regulated to ensure proper cellular homeostasis.Purine BiosynthesisThe biosynthesis of purine nucleotides begins with ribose-5-phosphate, a...
Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are characterized.
Amines: Introduction01:07

Amines: Introduction

Amines are organic derivatives of ammonia. They are formed by replacing one or more ammonia protons with alkyl or aryl groups. Depending upon the number of organyl groups bonded to nitrogen, amines are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary. Primary amines have one organyl group attached to the nitrogen atom, while secondary and tertiary amines have two and three organyl groups attached to the nitrogen atom, respectively.
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis01:22

Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis

Direct alkylation of ammonia produces polyalkylated amines, along with a quaternary ammonium salt. To exclusively prepare primary amines, the azide synthesis method can be used.
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...
Evolution of New Traits in Microbes01:24

Evolution of New Traits in Microbes

Microorganisms evolve rapidly due to their large population sizes and short generation times, often exhibiting measurable changes within days under laboratory conditions. Natural selection acts on standing genetic variation, enabling the retention and amplification of beneficial traits that confer fitness advantages in changing environments.Adaptive Pigment Regulation in RhodobacterIn Rhodobacter, a genus of purple non-sulfur bacteria, light-harvesting pigments such as bacteriochlorophyll and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Molecular mechanisms of transhydrogenase activity and allosteric regulation in eukaryotic type II PHGDH Ser33.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Revisiting the life cycle of temperate phages.

Nature reviews. Microbiology·2026
Same author

Evolution of molecular networks underlying plant tissue patterning: insights from conducting tissues.

Journal of experimental botany·2026
Same author

Conserved regulatory core and lineage-specific diversification of light-temperature integration in plants.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Structural basis for phosphorylation and allosteric regulation of bacterial glycogen phosphorylase by histidine phosphocarrier protein.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Engineering Penicillium expansum antifungal proteins unveils new clues about their mode of action.

Applied microbiology and biotechnology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Facile Protocol for the Synthesis of Self-assembling Polyamine-based Peptide Amphiphiles (PPAs) and Related Biomaterials
08:55

Facile Protocol for the Synthesis of Self-assembling Polyamine-based Peptide Amphiphiles (PPAs) and Related Biomaterials

Published on: June 25, 2018

Evolutionary diversification in polyamine biosynthesis.

Eugenio G Minguet1, Francisco Vera-Sirera, Alberto Marina

  • 1Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

Molecular Biology and Evolution
|July 26, 2008
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Aminopropyltransferases and putrescine N-methyltransferases (PMT) evolved from a common ancestor through frequent functional diversification. Spermine synthases (SPMS) arose independently multiple times, suggesting evolutionary advantages.

More Related Videos

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
09:14

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine

Published on: February 16, 2018

Genetic Incorporation of Biosynthesized L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and Its Application to Protein Conjugation
10:24

Genetic Incorporation of Biosynthesized L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and Its Application to Protein Conjugation

Published on: August 24, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Facile Protocol for the Synthesis of Self-assembling Polyamine-based Peptide Amphiphiles (PPAs) and Related Biomaterials
08:55

Facile Protocol for the Synthesis of Self-assembling Polyamine-based Peptide Amphiphiles (PPAs) and Related Biomaterials

Published on: June 25, 2018

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine
09:14

Enzymatic Cascade Reactions for the Synthesis of Chiral Amino Alcohols from L-lysine

Published on: February 16, 2018

Genetic Incorporation of Biosynthesized L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and Its Application to Protein Conjugation
10:24

Genetic Incorporation of Biosynthesized L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and Its Application to Protein Conjugation

Published on: August 24, 2018

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Polyamine biosynthesis is a fundamental metabolic pathway conserved across all life forms.
  • Aminopropyltransferases are crucial enzymes in synthesizing key polyamines like spermidine, spermine, and thermospermine.
  • Sequence similarities between aminopropyltransferases and putrescine N-methyltransferases (PMT) suggest evolutionary links.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary relationship between aminopropyltransferases and PMT.
  • To understand the mechanisms driving the diversification of enzymatic functions in polyamine metabolism.
  • To trace the origins and evolutionary history of spermine synthases (SPMS) and thermospermine synthase (tSPMS).

Main Methods:

  • Phylogenetic analysis of aminopropyltransferase and PMT gene families.
  • Comparative genomics to identify gene duplication and functional diversification events.
  • Tracing the evolutionary history of specific enzyme activities across different taxa.

Main Results:

  • Aminopropyltransferases and PMT are phylogenetically interconnected, with functional diversification driven by gene duplication and modification.
  • Spermine synthase (SPMS) activity evolved independently at least three times in animals, fungi, and plants.
  • Thermospermine synthase (tSPMS) emerged in Archaea and Bacteria, was later acquired by plants via horizontal gene transfer, and is essential for vascular development.
  • Putrescine N-methyltransferase (PMT) activity arose from spermidine synthase (SPDS) duplication and functional change, facilitating alkaloid synthesis in Solanales.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of polyamine biosynthesis involves frequent functional diversification from ancestral enzymes.
  • The repeated independent evolution of SPMS highlights its significant evolutionary advantage.
  • Horizontal gene transfer played a role in the evolution of tSPMS in plants, impacting vascular development.
  • The diversification of SPDS into enzymes like PMT has enabled novel metabolic pathways, such as alkaloid synthesis.