Polyamines. An overview.

The polyamines spermine, spermidine, and putrescine are small organic molecules one or more of which are present in all living organisms. Many natural products contain polyamine residues. Polyamines are synthesized by a highly regulated pathway from arginine or ornithine and also can be transported in and out of cells. Polyamines are degraded to a variety of compounds the functions of which are largely unknown. Polyamines influence the transcriptional and translational stages of protein synthesis, stabilize membranes, and, in mammalian systems, modulate neurophysiological functions and may act as intracellular messengers. However, at the molecular level the mode of action of the polyamines is largely unknown.