Hypusine, N6-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)-2,6-diaminohexanoic acid, in tissue proteins of mammals

Abstract Hypusine, N 6 -(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)-2,6-diaminohexanoic acid was isolated from proteins of bovine brain. Its identification was performed by comparison of its behavior in amino acid analysis, paper chromatography and electrophoresis to that of the authentic compound, and by periodic acid-permanganate oxidation which split hypusine into β-alanine and lysine. Hypusine was found in proteins of various organs of rabbits. Formation of hypusine from lysine was demonstrated by the intraperitoneal injection of labeled lysine into a rat and isolation of radioactive hypusine from the animal proteins. This findings indicates a possibility that hypusine is derived from the lysine residue of proteins through attachment of the 4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl moiety to the N 6 -amino radical of lysine.