Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Unique polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Amino Acids Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary.

Recent research progress on polyamines in extreme thermophiles is reviewed. Extreme thermophiles produce two types of unique polyamines; one is longer polyamines such as caldopentamine and caldohexamine, and the other is branched polyamines such as tetrakis(3-aminopropyl)ammonium. The protein synthesis catalyzed by a cell-free extract of Thermus thermophilus, an extreme thermophile, required the presence of a polyamine and the highest activity was found in the presence of tetrakis(3-aminopropyl)ammonium. In vitro experiments, longer polyamines efficiently stabilized double stranded nucleic acids and a branched polyamine, tetrakis(3-aminropyl)ammonium, stabilized stem-and-loop structures. In T. thermophilus, polyamines are synthesized from arginine by a new metabolic pathway; arginine is converted to agmatine and then agmatine is aminopropylated to N1-aminopropylagmatine which is converted to spermidine by an enzyme coded by a gene homologous to speB (a gene for agmatinase). In this new pathway spermidine is not synthesized from putrescine. Reverse genetic studies indicated that the unique polyamines are synthesized from spermidine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Poly(U):

polyuridilic acid

speA :

gene coding for arginine decarboxylase

speB :

gene coding for agmatine ureohydrolase

speD :

gene coding for S-adenosylmethinine decarboxylase

speE :

gene coding for spermidine synthase or spermine synthase

speC :

gene coding for ornithine decarboxylase

Tm :

melting temperature

References

  • OA Andreev OK Kaboev (1982) ArticleTitleThe influence of spermidine (polyamines) on DNA depurination in vitro Biochem Biophys Acta 698 100–101 Occurrence Handle7052129 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL38Xlt1ags74%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • HS Base LJ Marton (1987) ArticleTitleThe interaction of spermine and pentamines with DNA Biochem J 244 243–246

    Google Scholar 

  • M Behe G Felsenfeld (1981) ArticleTitleEffects of methylation on a synthetic polynucleotide: the B-Z transition in poly(dG-m5dC)poly(dG-m5dC) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 78 1619–1623 Occurrence Handle6262820 Occurrence Handle10.1073/pnas.78.3.1619 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3MXhvVOisrc%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SM Friedman T Oshima (1989) ArticleTitlePolyamines of sulfur-dependent archaebacteria and their role in protein synthesis J Biochem 105 1030–1033 Occurrence Handle2504703 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL1MXktlKnsLg%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana M Niitsu K Samejima S Matsuzaki (1991) ArticleTitlePolyamine distribution in thermophilic eubacteria belonging to Thermus and Acidothermus J Biochem 109 444–449 Occurrence Handle1880132 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXhvVWkurY%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana S Matsuzaki M Niitsu K Samejima (1992) ArticleTitleDistribution of unusual polyamines in leguminous seeds Can J Bot 70 1984–1990 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK3sXpvVSmtA%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana M Niitsu K Samejima T Itoh H Hamana T Shinozawa (1998) ArticleTitlePolyamines of the thermophilic eubacteriria belonging to the genera Thermotoga, Thermodesulfovibrio, Thermoleophilum, Thermus, Rhodothermus and Meiothermus, and the thermophilic archaebacteria belonging to the genus Aeropyrum, Picrophilus, Methanobacterium and Methanococcus Microbios 94 7–21

    Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana H Hamana T Shinozawa M Niitsu K Samejima T Itoh (1999) ArticleTitlePolyamines of the thermophilic eubacteria belonging to the genera Aquifex, Thermodesulfobacterium, Thermus and Meiothermus, and the thermophilic archaebacteria belonging to the genera Sulfurisphaera, Sulfobococcus, Stetteria, Thermocladium, Pyrococcus, Thermococcus, Methanopyrus and Methanothermus Microbios 97 117–130 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXjt12ju7Y%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana K Kato (2000) ArticleTitleOccurrence of quaternary branched penta-amines in a large sausage-shaped thermophilic sulfide-oxidizing bacterium predominated in hot spring sulfur-turf bacterial mats J Gen Appl Microbiol 46 179–182 Occurrence Handle12483590 Occurrence Handle10.2323/jgam.46.179 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXjtVaqsA%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K Hamana M Niitsu K Samejima (2000) ArticleTitleOccurrence of tertiary branched tetraamines in two aquatic plants Can J Bot 78 266–269 Occurrence Handle10.1139/cjb-78-2-266 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3cXjsVSjtro%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MH Hou SB Lin JMP Yuann WC Lin AHJ Wang LS Kan (2001) ArticleTitleEffects of polyamines on the thermal stability and formation kinetics of DNA duplexes with abnormal structure Nucleic Acids Res 29 5121–5128 Occurrence Handle11812845 Occurrence Handle10.1093/nar/29.24.5121 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmslartQ%3D%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • H Kneifel KO Stetter JR Andreesen J Wegel H Konig SM Schoberth (1986) ArticleTitleDistribution of polyamines in representative species of archaebacteria System Appl Microbiol 7 241–245 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL28XksFOlsro%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EE Minyat VI Ivanov AM Kritzyn LE Minchenkova AK Schyolkina (1978) ArticleTitleSpermine and spermidine-induced B to A transition of DNA solution J Mol Biol 128 397–409 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-2836(79)90094-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Y Ohno-Iwashita T Oshima K Imahori (1975) ArticleTitleIn vitro protein synthesis at elevated temperature by an extract of an extreme thermophile Arch Biochem Biophys 171 490–499 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0003-9861(75)90058-2 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE28XlsVKgsA%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Ohnuma Y Terui M Tamakoshi H Mitome M Niitsu K Samejima E Kawashima T Oshima (2005) ArticleTitleN1-aminopropylagmatine, a new polyamine produced as a key intermediate in polyamine biosynthesis of an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus J Biol Chem 280 30073–30082 Occurrence Handle15983049 Occurrence Handle10.1074/jbc.M413332200 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXos1Crs7o%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Oshima K Imahori (1974) ArticleTitleDescription of Thermus thermophilus, comb. nov., a nonsporulating thermophilic bacterium from a Japanese thermal spa Int J System Bacteriol 24 102–112 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaE2cXhsVaqtb4%3D Occurrence Handle10.1099/00207713-24-1-102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Oshima (1983) ArticleTitleNovel polyamines in Thermus thermophilus: isolation, identification, and chemical synthesis Methods Enzymol 94 401–411 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL3sXmtVyqtbo%3D Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0076-6879(83)94070-3

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Oshima (1989) Polyamines in thermophiles U Bachrach YM Heimer (Eds) The physiology of polyamines CRC Press Boca Raton 36–46

    Google Scholar 

  • Y Sakaki T Oshima (1975) ArticleTitleIsolation and characterization of a bacteriophage infectious to an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8 J Virol 15 1449–1453 Occurrence Handle1142476 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaE2M7pt1WktA%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Y Terui M Ohnuma K Hiraga E Kawashima T Oshima (2005) ArticleTitleStabilization of nucleic acids by unusual polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus Biochem J 388 427–433 Occurrence Handle15673283 Occurrence Handle10.1042/BJ20041778 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXks1Glsb8%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Uzawa N Hamasaki T Oshima (1993) ArticleTitleEffects of novel polyamines on cell-free polypeptide synthesis catalyzed by Thermus thermophilus HB8 extract J Biochem 114 478–486 Occurrence Handle8276757 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXislWluw%3D%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • T Uzawa A Yamagishi K Nishikawa T Oshima (1994) ArticleTitleEffects of unusual polyamines on phenylalanyl-tRNA formation J Biochem 115 830–832 Occurrence Handle7961592 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXlt1ymsrk%3D

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • V Vijayanathan T Thomas A Shirahata TJ Thomas (2001) ArticleTitleDNA condensation by polyamines: a laser light scattering study of structural effects Biochemistry 40 13644–13651 Occurrence Handle11695913 Occurrence Handle10.1021/bi010993t Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXnsFagt7g%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DE Wemmer KS Srivenugopal BR Reid DR Morris (1985) ArticleTitleNuclear magnetic resonance studies of polyamine binding to a defined DNA sequence J Mol Biol 185 457–459 Occurrence Handle4057253 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0022-2836(85)90418-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXlslCiu7s%3D

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Microbiology, Tokyo, Japan

    T. Oshima

Authors
  1. T. Oshima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Oshima, T. Unique polyamines produced by an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus . Amino Acids 33, 367–372 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-007-0526-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00726-007-0526-z

Search

Navigation