ADENOSYLMETHIONINE DECARBOXYLASE IN DEVELOPING RAT BRAIN |
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| Authors: | G L Schmidt G L Cantoni |
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| Institution: | Laboratory of General and Comparative Biochemistry, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20014, U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase from rat brain has been found to be similar to the same enzyme isolated from other rat tissues in regard to kinetic parameters, pH optimum, putrescine requirement, and subcellular location. Evidence is presented that pyridoxal phosphate is not the functional cofactor in enzymatic decarboxylation by the rat brain preparation. The capacity for spermidine synthesis in developing rat brain was determined by measurement of the activity of adenosylmethionine decarboxylase. The activity increased dramatically after 10 days of postnatal age. This increase occurred after the period of maximum nucleic acid synthesis, an observation which suggests that spermidine may have a role in the functional development of the brain. |
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