Larsson J, Rasmuson-Lestander A
Department of Genetics, Umeå University, Sweden.
Mol Gen Genet. 1997 Nov;256(6):652-60. doi: 10.1007/s004380050613.
S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase is a key enzyme in the synthesis of polyamines. These small cationic molecules are required for growth and development in all organisms. A wealth of biological processes, including synthesis of DNA and protein and condensation of chromatin, involve polyamines. Inhibition of polyamine synthesis has been proposed for treatment of cancer but this requires more knowledge about the in vivo function of polyamines. We report here the cloning of the S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase gene from Drosophila melanogaster and the analysis of corresponding mutants. The mutant phenotypes are similar to those previously described for ribosomal protein genes (Minutes) and rRNA genes (bobbed). This work elucidates the in vivo consequences of impaired polyamine synthesis with respect to the development of a whole animal.
S-腺苷甲硫氨酸脱羧酶是多胺合成中的关键酶。这些小分子阳离子对于所有生物体的生长和发育都是必需的。大量的生物过程，包括DNA和蛋白质的合成以及染色质的凝聚，都涉及多胺。有人提出抑制多胺合成可用于治疗癌症，但这需要更多关于多胺体内功能的知识。我们在此报告从黑腹果蝇中克隆S-腺苷甲硫氨酸脱羧酶基因并分析相应突变体。突变体表型与先前描述的核糖体蛋白基因（微小体）和rRNA基因（截短）的表型相似。这项工作阐明了多胺合成受损对整个动物发育的体内影响。
