The synthesis of 4-methylumbelliferyl alpha-ketoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid and its use in a fluorometric assay for neuraminidase

4-Methylumbelliferyl α-ketoside of N-acetylneuraminic acid was synthesized by reacting the sodium salt of 4-methylumbelliferone with the 2-chloro-2-deoxy derivative of peracetylated methyl N-acetylneuraminate, followed by preparative silica gel chromatography, deblocking, and purification by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25. The final product was isolated as either the sodium or ammonium salt, and its suitability as a substrate for neuraminidase was evaluated. The optimal pH values for various neuraminidases were 5.6 in acetate buffer (Arthrobacter ureafaciens), 5.0–5.1 in acetate buffer (Clostridium perfringens), and 4.4 in phosphate-citrate buffer (human fibroblasts). K_m values for these enzymes at the optimal pH were 6 × 10^?4m (Arthrobacter), 1 × 10^?4m (Clostridium), and 3 × 10^?4m (human fibroblasts).     

Purification and some properties of Δ2-isopentenylpyrophosphate:5′AMP Δ2-isopentenyltransferase from the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Δ²-Isopentenylpyrophosphate:5′AMP Δ²-isopentenyltransferase, which catalyzes the formation of isopentenyl-AMP from Δ²-isopentenylpyrophosphate and 5′AMP, was purified 6800-fold from the fruiting body of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum using several separation procedures including 5′AMP^ox-redAH-Sepharose 4B affinity column chromatography. The final preparation was very unstable and lost its activity in a day. Various properties of the 1000-fold-purified enzyme preparation were examined. The molecular mass was 40,000 ± 2000 Da, as determined by Sephadex G-100 superfine gel filtration. The divalent metal ions Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Mg²⁺ profoundly affected the enzymatic activity depending on their concentration, and also altered the optimum pH and temperature. Of the compounds tested, 5′AMP was the best acceptor of the isopentenyl group and, interestingly, ADP also served as a substrate, being 60–80% as effective as 5′AMP. Adenine, adenosine, and ATP were not substrates for this enzyme. Under the optimum assay conditions (pH 7.0, 1 mm Zn²⁺, and 25 °C) the K_m values for 5′AMP and Δ²-isopentenylpyrophosphate were 1.0 × 10^?7m and 2.2 × 10^?6m, respectively.     

Phosphofructokinase of Solanum tuberosum tuber

Potato tuber phosphofructokinase was purified 19·.6-fold by a combination of ethanol fractionation and DEAE-cellulose column chromatography. The enzyme was very unstable; its pH optimum was 8·0. K_m for fructose-6-phosphate, ATP and Mg²⁺ was 2·1 × 10^?4 M, 4·5 × 10^?5 M and 4·0 × 10^?4 M respectively. ITP, GTP, UTP and CTP can act as phosphate donors, but are less active than ATP. Inhibition of enzyme activity by high levels of ATP was reversed by increasing the concentration of fructose-6-phosphate; the affinity of enzyme for fructose-6-phosphate decreased with increasing concentration of ATP. 5′-AMP, 3′,5′-AMP, 3′-AMP, deoxy AMP, UMP, IMP, CMP, GMP, ADP, CDP, GDP and UDP did not reverse the inhibition of enzyme by ATP. ADP, phosphoenolpyruvate and citrate inhibited phosphofructokinase activity but Pi did not affect it. Phosphofructokinase was not reactivated reversibly by mild change of pH and addition of effectors.     

A comparison of the subcellular distribution of 5′-nucleotidase, (Na+K+)-ATPase and adenyl cyclase in beef thyroid gland

The validity of 5′-nucleotidase as a plasma membrane marker enzyme in beef thyroid has been tested by comparing the subcellular distribution of its activity to that of (Na⁺K⁺)-activated ATPase and adenyl cyclase. The specific activity and total activity of (Na⁺K⁺)-ATPase and adenyl cyclase were greatest in the 1000 × g (“nuclear”) and 33 000 × g (“mitochondrial and lysosomal”) fractions. In contrast, 5′-nucleotidase activity was concentrated in the 165 000 × g (“microsomal”) pellet and supernatant. Partially purified plasma membranes were separated from the 1000 (N₂), 30 000 (M₂) and 165 000 × g (P₂) pellets by discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation. Again a discordant distribution of these enzyme activities was observed. (Na⁺K⁺)-ATPase specific activity was increased approximately 30-fold over the homogenate in Fractions N₂ and M₂. Basal, thyroid-stimulating hormone-and fluoride-stimulated adenyl cyclase activities were concentrated in the same fractions. 5′-Nucleotidase activity was preferentially located in M₂ and P₂. These differences in distribution pattern suggest that 5′-nucleotidase activity is not uniquely located in the plasma membrane in the thyroid.     

Cytokinin activity of N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea derivatives

We have synthesized 35 N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea derivatives and tested their cytokinin activity in the tobacco callus bioassay. Among them, N-phenyl-N′- (2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea is highly active, the optimum concentration of which is lower than 4 × 10^?9 M (0.001 ppm), 3 compounds, i.e. N-(2-methylphenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea, N-(3-methylphenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea and N-(3-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl) urea are as active as N⁶-benzyladenine (concentration for optimum yield: 4.4 × 10^?8 M or 0.01 ppm), and N-phenyl-N′-(2-methyl-4-pyridyl)urea and N-(2-chlorophenyl)-N′-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)urea are as active as N-phenyl-N′-(4-pyridyl)urea (concentration for optimum yield: 4.7 × 10^?7 M or 0.1 ppm), while the activity of the other 29 compounds are not so remarkable and 11 of them are almost or completely inactive.     

Occurrence of an oxalate oxidase in Sorghum leaves

An oxalate oxidase found in the 15 000 g supernatant of 10-day-old sorghum leaves exhibited a pH optimum of 5 and a temperature optimum of 45° and was unaffected by Na⁺. The enzyme activity remained linear up to 10 min and the apparent K_m for oxalate was 2.4 × 10^?5 M. The enzyme activity was strongly inhibited by sodium dithionite and α,α′-dipyridyl. Inhibition by the latter was specifically reversed by Fe²⁺. The activity of the dialysed enzyme was restored by the addition of Fe²⁺ and FAD. Inhibition of the enzyme by iodoacetate, p-chloromercuribenzoate and N-methylmaleimide revealed that SH groups at the active site are essential.     

Purification and characterisation of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from the butter clam, saxidomus purpuratus

A β-N-acetylhexosaminidase [EC 3.2.1.30] has been purified ～98-fold from an extract of the digestive organs of Saxidomus purpuratus by using ammonium sulfate fractionation, and chromatography on Toyopearl HW-50, CM-cellulose, and Sepharose 4B. The purified enzyme, the molecular weight of which was estimated to be ～66,000 by gel filtration, was composed of two sub-units of molecular weight 30,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 3.8 and an optimum temperature of 55°, and its activity was enhanced ～2-fold in the presence of 0.1m sodium chloride. The Michaelis constants toward p-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucoside and -galactoside were 1.2 × 10^?4 and 1.3 × 10^?4m, respectively.     

Synthesis,characterization, and biological activity of Nα-(N-fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)-(Asp1, Ile5)-angiotensin II

A fluorescent analog of angiotensin II was synthesized by reacting fluorescein 5′-isothiocyanate with (Asp¹, Ile⁵)-angiotensin II. N^α-(N-Fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)-(Asp¹, Ile⁵)-angiotensin II was purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex G-25. Analysis of the analog by thin-layer chromatography, thin-layer electrophoresis, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography indicated that the analog was free of angiotensin II and fluorescein 5′-isothiocyanate. N-Terminal sequence analysis demonstrated that fluorescein 5′-isothiocyanate reacted with the N-terminal aspartic acid residue of angiotensin II. N^α-(N-Fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)-(Asp¹, Ile⁵)-angiotensin II has an absorption maximum at 492 nm, and the value of the molar extinction coefficient, ?, is 7.7 × 10⁴m^?1 cm^?1. The fluorescence emission maximum occurs at 520 nm. Infusion of the analog (0.69 μg/min/kg body wt) directly into the renal artery of an anesthetized rat reduced the blood flow by 12 to 27% within 2 min. Infusion of angiotensin II (0.48 μg/min/kg body wt) reduced renal arterial blood flow by 35 to 53% within 2 min. Saralasin, a partial agonist and antagonist of angiotensin II, inhibited the biologic effect of the fluorescent analog and angiotensin II by 75 and 70%, respectively. The purity, spectral properties, and in vivo biologic activity of N^α-(N-fluoresceinthiocarbamoyl)-(Asp¹, Ile⁵)-angiotensin II indicate that this analog should facilitate characterization of angiotensin II receptors.     

Plant adenosine kinase: purification and some properties of the enzyme from Lupinus luteus seeds.

Adenosine kinase (ATP:adenosine 5′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.20) from Lupinus luteus seeds has been obtained with good yield in almost homogeneous state by ammonium sulfate fractionation, chromatography on aminohexyl-Sepharose, and gel filtration. Active enzyme is a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of about 38,000 as judged by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel nitration. Estimated molecular activity is 156. The enzyme exhibits a strict requirement for divalent metal ions. Among several ions tested the following appeared to be active as cofactors: Co²⁺ ? Mn²⁺ > Mg²⁺ = Ca²⁺ ? Ni²⁺ > Ba²⁺. The optimal metal ion concentrations were as follows: Mn²⁺, 0.5 mm, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺, 1 mm, Co²⁺, 1.5 mm. The adenosine kinase shows optimum activity at pH 7.0–7.5. K_m values for adenosine and ATP are 1.5 × 10^?6 and 3 × 10^?4m, respectively. Lupin adenosine kinase is completely inhibited by antisulfhydryl reagents. ATP is the main phosphate donor and among other nucleoside triphosphates ITP, dATP, GTP, and XTP can substitute it but less effectively. Among the ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides occurring in nucleic acids adenosine is phosphorylated effectively and 2′-deoxyadenosine at a lower rate. Of other adenosine analogs tested all adenine d-nucleosides and purine derivative ribosides, besides those with a hydroxyl group at C-6, were found to be substrates for lupin adenosine kinase. Pyrimidine ribo- and deoxyribonucleosides were not phosphorylated.     

Purification and properties of 5′-nucleotidase from alkalophilic Bacillus No. C-3

5′-Nucleotidase (EC 3. 1. 3. 5) from alkalophilic Bacillus no. C-3 was purified to homogeneity. The molecular weight of the enzyme was 80,000 by gel filtration. The optimum pH for the activity was 9.5, and the enzyme was stable at pH 9.5–10.5 in a buffer containing 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol. Substrate specificity study revealed that the enzyme acted on 5′-AMP strongly, on several 5′-nucleotides and ADP to a certain extent, but not on 3′-nucleotides, 2′-nucleotides, p-nitrophenyl phosphate, or ATP. The K_m value for 5′-AMP was 3.0 × 10⁻⁴ M. The enzyme required no divalent cation for its activity. The enzyme was inhibited by borate and arsenite ions but not by 1 mM EDTA.     

Partial characterization of 5′(3′)-ribonucleotide and 3′-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolases from Tradescantia albiflora leaves

Two acid phosphomonoesterases, 5′(3′)-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase and 3′-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, were isolated from Tradescantia albiflora leaf tissue and purified by ammonium sulphate precipitation, gel filtration on Sephadex G-200 and repeated chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The enzymes differed in their sensitivity to dialysis against 1 mM EDTA; the activity of 5′(3′)-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase was unaffected, while 3′-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase showed an increase of 60–90%. Both enzymes were rapidly inactivated above 50°. Their ion sensitivity was identical: 1 m M Zn²⁺ and Fe²⁺ were inhibitors for both by 20–80%; while Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Co²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺ at 1–10 mM had no significant effect on the activity of either enzyme. Inorganic phosphate inhibited both enzymes almost completely. EDTA (1 mM) did not inhibit either enzyme; none of the divalent cations tested were enzyme activators. 3′-Ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase hydrolysed both 3′- and 5′-nucleoside monophosphates (3′-AMP, 3′-CMP, 3′-GMP, 3′-UMP, 5′-AMP, 5′-CMP, 5′-GMP, 5′-UMP). 5′(3′)-Ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase showed a preference for the 3′-nucleoside monophosphates. Adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate, purine and pyrimidine 2′,3′-cyclic mononucleotides at 0.1–1.OmM did not inhibit the enzymes.     

Purification and Properties of Pantothenate Kinase from Brevibacterium ammoniagenes IFO 12071

Pantothenate kinase (ATP: pantothenate 4′-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.33) was purified about 200-fold from the cell extract of Brevibacterium ammoniagenes IFO 12071 by ammonium sulfate fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and Sephadex G-150 gel filtration. The purified enzyme gave a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was calculated approximately 45,000. The enzyme catalyzed the formation of pantothenic acid 4′-phosphate and ADP from pantothenate and ATP in the presence of Mg²⁺ ATP could be substituted for, partly, by ITP, GTP, and UTP. The enzyme phosphorylated not only pantothenate, but also pantothenoylcysteine, pantetheine, and pantothenyl alcohol. Apparent Km values were 6.7×10^?5 m for pantothenate, 3.5×10^?5 m for ATP, and 10^?3 m for Mg²⁺. The reaction was inhibited by the intermediates of CoA biosynthesis, of which CoA itself was a most effective inhibitor. Other properties of the enzyme were also investigated.     

Purification and properties of d-xylulose reductase from Pachysolen tannophilus

d-Xylulose reductase (EC 1.1.1.9) from Pachysolen tannophilus IFO 1007 was purified by Sephadex G-100 gel chromatography with three columns and DEAE cellulose chromatography. The purified enzyme was entirely homogeneous on disc gel electrophoresis. It was most active at pH 9.1–10.0 and 55°C, and stable at pH 7–9 and below 25 °C. Its activity was stimulated by NH₄Cl,NaCl,MgCl₂,KCl, glutathione, cysteine and glycine, and inhibited remarkably by SH inhibitor such as lead acetate, HgCl₂ and AgNO₃. It oxidized xylitol, sorbitol, ribitol and glycerine but not mannitol, inositol, arabitol and erythritol. Its K_m values of enzyme against xylitol, sorbitol and ribitol were 1.1 × 10⁻² M, 3.0 × 10⁻² M and 5.0 × 10⁻² M, respectively. Its molecular weight was determined to be 120,000 by Sephadex G-200 column chromatography, and that of its subunit was 40,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Acrylamide gel analysis of sucrose gradient-derived RNA B fractions transferring delayed sensitivity in vitro

Sucrose-derived RNA fractions transferring specific delayed sensitivity in vitro were extracted from mono-(p-azobenzenearsonate)-N-chloracetyl-l-tyrosine (ARSNAT)- or keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-sensitized guinea pigs. Fractions having biological activity were assessed by acrylamide gel analysis to enumerate the number of RNA species in active fractions, and to compare and examine the banding patterns of each RNA fraction. Each isolated B fraction of RNA exhibited multiple bands of RNA with molecular weights ranging from 4.0 × 10⁵ to 8.5× 10⁵. Depending on the source and antigen sensitivity of the RNA donor, several differences were observed among the analyzed fractions. These were bands of varying intensity, presence of additional RNA bands, absence of bands in certain positions, and RNA bands migrating in different positions on the gels. Acrylamide gel analysis separation, and resolution of B fractions with specific immunobiological activity now offers an approach for further isolation and resolution of the active species.     

Purification and properties of a β-N-acetylaminoglucohydrolase from malted barley

β-N-Acetylaminoglucohydrolase (β-2-acetylamino-2-deoxy-D-glucoside acetylaminodeoxyglucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.30) was extracted from malted barley and purified. The partially purified preparation was free from α-and β-glucosidase, α- and β-galactosidase, α-mannosidase and β-mannosidase. This preparation was free from α-mannosidase only after affinity chromatography with p-amino-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidine coupled to Sepharose. The enzyme was active between pH 3 and 6.5 and had a pH optimum at pH 5. A MW of 92000 was obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and a sedimentation coefficient of 4.65 was obtained from sedimentation velocity experiments. β-N-Acetylaminoglucohydrolase had a K_m of 2.5 × 10^?4 M using the p-nitrophenyl N-acetyl β-D-glucosaminidine as the substrate.     

Purification and characterization of extracellular acid phosphatase of Tetrahymena pyriformis

An extracellular acid phosphatase secreted into the medium during growth of Tetrahymena pryiformis strain W was purified about 900-fold by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. The purified acid phosphatase was homogenous as judged by polycrylamide gel electrophoresis and was found to be a glycoprotein. Its carbohydrate content was about 10% of the total protein content. The native enzyme has a molecular weight of 120 000 as determined by gel filtration and 61 000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polycrylamide gel electrophoresis. The acid phosphatase thus appears to consist of two subunits of equal size. The amino acid analysis revealed a relatively high content of asparic acid, glutamic acid and leucine. The purified acid phosphatase from Tetrahymena had a rather broad substrate specificity; it hydrolyzed organic phosphates, nucleotide phosphates and hexose phosphates, but had no diesterase activity. The K_m values determined with p-nitrophenyl phosphate, adenosine 5′-phosphate and glucose 6-phosphate were 3.1·10^?4 M, 3.9·10^?4 M and 1.6·10^?3 M, respectively. The optima pH for hydrolysis of three substrates were similar (pH 4.6). Hg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ at 5 mM were inhibitory for the purified acid phosphatase, and fluoride, L-(+)-tartaric acid and molybdate also inhibited its cavity at low concentrations. The enzyme was competitively inhibited by NaF (K_i=5.6·10^?4 M) and by L-(+)-tartaric acid (K_i = 8.5·10^?5 M), while it was inhibited noncompetitively by molybdate K_i = 5.0·10^?6 M). The extracellular acid phosphatase purified from Tetrahymena was indistinguishable from the intracellular enzyme in optimum pH, K_m, thermal stability and inhibition by NaF.     

Synthesis,characterization, and reactions of 2′-, 3′-, and 5′-(2-bromoethyl)-AMP: Potential affinity labels for nucleotide binding sites in enzymes

Two new adenosine analogs, 2′-(2-bromoethyl) adenosine monophosphate and 3′-(2-bromoethyl) adenosine monophosphate, were synthesized, purified by semipreparative high-pressure liquid chromatography, and completely characterized. A new synthesis of 5′-(2-bromoethyl) adenosine monophosphate is presented which facilitates the preparation of radioactive reagent with label either in the ethyl group or the purine ring of the nucleotide derivative. The reactive moiety of these derivatives, a bromoalkyl group, has the ability to react with the nucleophilic side chains of several amino acids. The second-order, pH-independent rate constants for reaction with the side chains of the amino acids cysteine, lysine, histidine, and tyrosine were determined as 3×10^?4, 6×10^?6, 3×10^?7, and <1×10^?7 M^?1 sec^?1, respectively. These data could be use in estimating the rate enhancement observed in modification of a protein by these affinity-labeling reagents. 5′-(S-(2-hydroxyethyl)cysteine) adenosine monophosphate, the derivative expected from exhaustive digestion of protein in which a cysteinyl residue is modified by 5′-(2-bromoethyl) adenosine monophosphate, and S-2-hydroxyethyl)cysteine, the derivative anticipated upon acid hydrolysis of such a modified protein, were synthesized, characterized, and their elution positions from an amino acid analyzer determined. These bromoethyl AMP derivatives are potential affinity labels for enzymes that bind 2′-, 3′-, or 5′-nucleotides such as TPN, coenzyme A, or ADP, respectively.     

Nematodirus battus: Permeability changes,calcium binding,and phosphorylation of the eggshell during hatching

Eggshells of Nematodirus battus leaked trehalose 4 hr after being stimulated to hatch, and became permeable to trypan blue at their poles; 80% of eggs were stained blue 24 hr later. Exogenous application of ruthenium red significantly inhibited chill- and sodium fluoride-stimulated hatching, 50% hatch inhibition occurring in 44.67 ± 2.2 and 8.5 ± 1.5 μM, respectively. Lanthanum chloride, however, was not as inhibitory as ruthenium red on fluoride-stimulated hatching, 50% occurring at 31.60 ± 1.25 μM. A Scatchard plot of the competitive binding of ruthenium red to eggshells demonstrated a high-affinity binding site for calcium, K_Ca′ = 1.92 μM and a second, low-affinity site, K_Ca′ = 1169.60 μM. Ruthenium red binding was significantly reduced by several enzymes, e.g., EGTA-buffered trypsin reduced binding by 73%. Radioiodinated concanavalin A also bound competitively to the eggshells in the presence of α-d-glucosyl-α-d-glucopyranoside and α-methyl-d-mannopyranoside. Eggshells incorporated phosphorus-32 from ATP after chilling or on exposure to sodium fluoride; gel filtration of solubilized homogenates of these samples showed that two proteins were radiolabelled with molecular weights of 38 × 10³ and 8 × 10³ Da, respectively. This phosphorylation was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide, which also prevented hatching.     

Sex Pheromone of Rice Stem Borer; Purification and Chemical Properties

Bacillus vitellinus, a butirosin-producing organism, was shown to possess butirosin 3′-phosphotransferase catalyzing the phosphorylation of butirosin A into butirosin A 3′-phosphate.

The enzyme was purified about 1200-fold from the cell-free extract of the organism by ammonium sulfate fractionation, affinity chromatography on butirosin A-Sepharose 4B and two gel filtrations on Sephadex G–100.

The molecular weight of the enzyme was estimated to be about 30,000 by gel filtration. The pH optimum was between 6.7 and 8.8. Mg²⁺ was required for maximal activity and could be partially replaced by Co²⁺. ATP and GTP were effective phosphoryl donors. The enzyme catalyzed the phosphorylation of aminoglycoside antibiotics such as butirosin A, butirosin B, xylostasin, ribostamycin, neomycin, paromomycin, kanamycin A and kanamycin B. The Km values for butirosin A and ATP were 4.0 × 10^?6 m and 5.6 × 10^?5 m, respectively. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate, Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺, and was competitively inhibited by 3′-deoxybutirosin A.     

Polyamine synthesis in plants: isolation and characterization of spermidine synthase from soybean (Glycine max) axes

Spermidine synthase (EC 2.5.1.16) was purified to homogeneity for the cytosol of soybean (Glycine max) axes using ammonium sulfate fractionation and chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel, Sephacryl S-300, ω-aminooctyl-Sepharose and ATPA-Sepharose. The molecular mass of the enzyme estimated by gel filtration and SDS–PAGE is 74 kDa. Cadaverin and 1,6-diaminohexane could not replace putrescine as the aminopropyl acceptor. Kinetic behaviors of the substrate are consistent with a ping pong mechanism. The kinetic mechanism is further supported by direct evidence confirming the presence of an aminopropylated enzyme and identification of product, 5′-deoxy-5′-methylthioadenosine, prior to adding putrescine. The K_m values for decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine and putrescine are 0.43 μM and 32.45 μM, respectively. Optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme reaction are 8.5 and 37°C, respectively. The enzyme activity is inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide and DTNB, but stimulated by Co²⁺, Cu²⁺ and Ca²⁺ significantly, suggesting that these metal ions could be the cellular regulators in polyamine biosynthesis.