Complementation of a polyamine-deficient Escherichia coli mutant by expression of mouse ornithine decarboxylase.

Mouse ornithine decarboxylase (ODCase) cDNA was expressed at a high level in an Escherichia coli mutant deficient in polyamine biosynthesis. The expression of mouse ornithine decarboxylase relieved the dependence of the mutant on an exogenous source of polyamines, presumably by providing putrescine, the product of the enzyme. The effect on the enzymatic activity of deletions that removed carboxy-terminal amino acids of the protein was determined.