Spermine, Spermidine and Putrescine in Fungal Development

Publisher Summary A number of different naturally-occurring oligoamines exist but only three are known to be widely distributed—namely, putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), spermidine (4 azaoctane- 1,8-diamine), and spermine (4,9 diazadodecane-l,12-diamine). Because there is a correlation among oligoamine synthesis, cell growth, and differentiation and as the latter process cannot be easily studied in bacteria, fungi have a number of advantages in studying differentiation. Fungi exhibit a wide variety of developmental patterns many of which can be varied under laboratory conditions. Also, extensive genetic analysis can often be carried out on fungi. They are suitable phyllum for studying the role of oligoamines in development, and this helps to solve the more general question of oligoamine function. The chapter discusses the distribution and biosynthesis of oligoamines with particular emphasis on the contrast between prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Oligoamine distribution and synthesis in fungi, and related amino-acid biosynthesis is presented. Fungal development, with emphasis on correlations among nucleic acid, protein, and oligoamine synthesis, is also discussed.