[Possible role of ornithine decarboxylase in controlling the hourly rhythm of protein synthesis].

A study was made of the effect of non-competitive inhibitors of ornithine decarboxylase (1,3-diaminopropane and cadaverine) on the circahoralian rhythm of protein synthesis in liver sections incubated in vitro. Addition of diamines to the culture resulted in a decrease in the amplitude of protein synthesis fluctuations and in some cases in an almost complete rhythm wearing. It is suggested that diamines affect the rhythm of protein synthesis by inhibiting the key enzyme of polyamines--ornithine decarboxylase.