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Intracellular polyamine patterns during encystment of Physarum flavicomum
1Department of Biology, University of Houston, TX 77204-5513.
Canadian Journal of Microbiology
|May 1, 1990
Summary
Adenine disrupts Physarum flavicomum development by increasing S-adenosylmethionine, altering polyamine levels essential for cell growth and differentiation. This study quantifies these polyamine changes during encystment.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biochemistry
- Developmental biology
Background:
- Physarum flavicomum amoebae normally encyst under nutrient imbalance.
- Exogenous adenine inhibits encystment and elevates intracellular S-adenosylmethionine.
- Increased S-adenosylmethionine disrupts normal developmental processes, potentially via polyamine synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of S-adenosylmethionine in adenine-induced encystment disruption.
- To quantify intracellular polyamine patterns in Physarum flavicomum under different conditions.
Main Methods:
- High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed.
- Intracellular polyamine levels were analyzed in growing cells, adenine-treated cells, normal encysting cells, and dormant cysts.
Main Results:
- Putrescine and spermidine were the most abundant polyamines.
- Adenine-treated cells showed 1.5-2.0 times higher polyamine levels than normal encysting cells.
- Dormant cysts had significantly lower polyamine levels compared to growing and treated cells.
Conclusions:
- Elevated S-adenosylmethionine, induced by adenine, alters polyamine homeostasis.
- Changes in polyamine concentrations correlate with the disruption of the encystment process in Physarum flavicomum.
- Polyamines are critical for normal cell growth and differentiation in this organism.