A combined model of hepatic polyamine and sulfur amino acid metabolism to analyze S-adenosyl methionine availability

Many molecular details remain to be uncovered concerning the regulation of polyamine metabolism. A previous model of mammalian polyamine metabolism showed that S-adenosyl methionine availability could play a key role in polyamine homeostasis. To get a deeper insight in this prediction, we have built a combined model by integration of the previously published polyamine model and one-carbon and glutathione metabolism model, published by different research groups. The combined model is robust and it is able to achieve physiological steady-state values, as well as to reproduce the predictions of the individual models. Furthermore, a transition between two versions of our model with new regulatory factors added properly simulates the switch in methionine adenosyl transferase isozymes occurring when the liver enters in proliferative conditions. The combined model is useful to support the previous prediction on the role of S-adenosyl methionine availability in polyamine homeostasis. Furthermore, it could be easily adapted to get deeper insights on the connections of polyamines with energy metabolism.