Conjugation of polyamines in mammalian cells in culture.

In cultures of BHK-21/C13 cells (Syrian baby hamster kidney fibroblasts) or 3T6 cells (Swiss mouse embryonic fibroblasts), spermidine and spermine undergo conjugation to a low molecular weight moiety which, under certain conditions, is excreted from cells into the extracellular fluid. A schematic model has been devised to describe the various metabolic processes that may be involved in the control of polyamine levels in mammalian cells and their extracellular fluid.