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Facile Protocol for the Synthesis of Self-assembling Polyamine-based Peptide Amphiphiles PPAs and Related Biomaterials
Published on: June 25, 2018
Identification of Branched-Chain Polyamines in Hyperthermophiles
Ryota Hidese1, Wakao Fukuda2, Masaru Niitsu3
1Department of Bioscience, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kwansei-Gakuin University, 2-1 Gakuen, Sanda, Hyogo, 669-1337, Japan.
Abstract:
Thermophiles are organisms that grow optimally at temperatures higher than 55 °C. They contain two types of unusual longer/branched-chain polyamines in addition to common polyamines such as spermidine and putrescine. These unusual polyamines contribute to the survival of hyperthermophiles at high temperatures. Recently, the novel aminopropyltransferase BpsA was found to be responsible for the biosynthesis of branched-chain polyamines in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis, which contains N 4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine as the major polyamine. This compound is synthesized by the sequential addition of decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (dcSAM) aminopropyl groups to spermidine via the bifunctional catalytic action of BpsA. In this chapter, methods for the extraction and identification of branched-chain polyamines are presented, along with methods for the production and characterization of recombinant T. kodakarensis BpsA as a model aminopropyltransferase.
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