Synthetic Polyamine Analogues Research Articles

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor activity of novel acylspermidine derivative N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide (AAHD) against HepG2 cells

Naturally occurring polyamines like Putrescine, Spermidine, and Spermine are polycations which bind to the DNA, hence stabilizing it and promoting the essential cellular processes. Many synthetic polyamine analogues have been synthesized in the past few years, which have shown cytotoxic effects on different tumours. In the present study, we evaluated the antiproliferative effect of a novel, acylspermidine derivative, (N-(4-aminobutyl)-N-(3-aminopropyl)-8-hydroxy-dodecanamide) (AAHD) on HepG2 cells. Fluorescence staining was performed with nuclear stain (Hoechst 33342) and acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining. Dose and the time-dependent antiproliferative effect were observed by WST-1 assays, and radical scavenging activity was measured by ROS. Morphological changes such as cell shrinkage & blebbing were analyzed by fluorescent microscopy. It was found that AAHD markedly suppressed the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was also noted that the modulation of ROS levels confirmed the radical scavenging activity. In the near future, AAHD can be a promising drug candidate in chalking out a neoplastic strategy to control the proliferation of tumour cells. This study indicated that AAHD induced anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activities on HCC. Since AAHD was active at micromolar concentrations without any adverse effects on the healthy cells (Fibroblasts), it is worthy of further clinical investigations.

Identification of Deregulated Signaling Pathways in Jurkat Cells in Response to a Novel Acylspermidine Analogue-N4-Erucoyl Spermidine.

Natural polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are crucial in the cell proliferation and maintenance in all the eukaryotes. However, the requirement of polyamines in tumor cells is stepped up to maintain tumorigenicity. Many synthetic polyamine analogues have been designed recently to target the polyamine metabolism in tumors to induce apoptosis. N4-Erucoyl spermidine (designed as N4-Eru), a novel acylspermidine derivative, has been shown to exert selective inhibitory effects on both hematological and solid tumors, but its mechanisms of action are unknown. In this study, RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the anticancer mechanisms of N4-Eru-treated T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line (Jurkat cells), and gene expression was examined through different tools. We could show that many key oncogenes including NDRG1, CACNA1G, TGFBR2, NOTCH1,2,3, UHRF1, DNMT1,3, HDAC1,3, KDM3A, KDM4B, KDM4C, FOS, and SATB1 were downregulated, whereas several tumor suppressor genes such as CDKN2AIPNL, KISS1, DDIT3, TP53I13, PPARG, FOXP1 were upregulated. Data obtained through RNA-Seq further showed that N4-Eru inhibited the NOTCH/Wnt/JAK-STAT axis. This study also indicated that N4-Eru-induced apoptosis could involve several key signaling pathways in cancer. Altogether, our results suggest that N4-Eru is a promising drug to treat ALL.

Identification of the functional activity of synthetic polyamine analogues using a biotest system based on highly proliferating cultured human cells

Identification of the functional activity of synthetic polyamine analogues using a biotest system based on highly proliferating cultured human cells

Novel Chemical Probes for Polyamine Binding in the Inward-Rectifier Kir2.1

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels exhibit preferential conduction of currents into the cell, due to voltage-dependent block by intracellular polyamines. This function enables Kir channels to conduct near the resting membrane potential, but rapidly shut down to allow action potentials to proceed. We set out to explore the detailed chemical features of polyamine interactions within the pore of the prototypical inward rectifier Kir2.1. Polyamines first interact with residues F254 and D255 in the channel's cytoplasmic domain to produce low-affinity block. Alteration of residue F254 by introduction of non-natural fluorinated phenylalanine analogs, using stop codon suppression, did not reduce low-affinity spermine block, ruling out a hypothesized cation-π interaction with spermine in the cytoplasmic domain. To examine the high-affinity inner cavity binding site, we characterized the blocking kinetics and affinity of a family of novel synthetic polyamine analogs, with progressive alkylation of terminal amines. Increasing blocker length or terminal amine volume decelerated blocking/unblocking kinetics, but did not change the voltage-dependence of block. These results imply that access to the high-affinity site is sterically hindered, but blocker entry to the constrained selectivity filter does not contribute significantly to the steep voltage-dependence of block. Lastly, a novel hydrogen bond-deficient spermine analog showed greatly decreased affinity relative to spermine in Kir2.1, but not in Kir2.1[D172N], illustrating the importance of close amine-carboxylate interactions to high-affinity block. Similarly, amine introduction at a substituted inner cavity cysteine (I176C) demonstrated that hydrogen bond-‘enabled’ modifiers (ie. MTSEA) disrupt spermine block more than hydrogen bond-deficient modifiers (ie. MTSET). These findings dissect the chemical details of multiple polyamine binding sites in Kir2.1, and demonstrate the critical contribution of hydrogen bonding to high-affinity spermine block.

99mTc]polyamine analogs as potential tumor imaging agent

AbstractPolyamines are essential for the growth and survival of all cells with biosynthesis and transportation of polyamines being very active in tumors. With the aim of developing a new tumor imaging agent, three artificial synthetic polyamine analogs, diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), were labeled with 99mTc. The 99mTc‐labeled complexes were characterized by TLC and studied for stability. 99mTc‐DETA, 99mTc‐TETA, and 99mTc‐TEPA were formed in high yields and found to be stable. 99mTc‐DETA, 99mTc‐TETA, and 99mTc‐TEPA revealed high tumor uptakes of 0.65, 0.58, and 0.59% ID/g at 4 h pi, respectively, in HepA tumor‐bearing mice. The ratios of the tumor to the contralataral muscle (T/CM) were 13.68, 5.99, and 9.81, respectively. SPECT images revealed clear visualization of tumors. Excretion routes were mainly through urine and feces. The tumor‐to‐muscle count density ratios of 99mTc‐DETA, 99mTc‐TETA, and 99mTc‐TEPA were 2.47, 2.45, and 2.91, respectively. [99mTc]‐labeled polyamine analogs are promising agents for tumor imaging and warrant further evaluation. Drug Dev Res 69:520–525, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Polyamine analogues: potent inducers of nucleosomal array oligomerization and inhibitors of yeast cell growth

Polyamines are naturally occurring intracellular polycations that are essential for viability and growth of eukaryotes. Dysregulation of polyamine metabolism is a hallmark of cancer and the carcinogenic process, and consequently development of polyamine analogues has emerged as a viable strategy for therapeutic intervention. Previously, we showed that the naturally occurring polyamines spermidine and spermine were quite effective at inducing the oligomerization of nucleosomal arrays in vitro, suggesting that polyamines may play a key role in regulating higher order chromatin structures in vivo. Here, we analyse the ability of a number of synthetic polyamine analogues to potentiate formation of higher order chromatin structures in vitro. We find that a class of long-chain polyamines called oligoamines are potent inducers of nucleosomal array oligomerization in vitro and that these same polyamine analogues rapidly block yeast cell growth.

Effect of polyamines and synthetic polyamine-analogues on the expression of antizyme (AtoC) and its regulatory genes

BackgroundIn bacteria, the biosynthesis of polyamines is modulated at the level of transcription as well as post-translationally. Antizyme (Az) has long been identified as a non-competitive protein inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis in E. coli. Az was also revealed to be the product of the atoC gene. AtoC is the response regulator of the AtoS-AtoC two-component system and it functions as the positive transcriptional regulator of the atoDAEB operon genes, encoding enzymes involved in short chain fatty acid metabolism. The antizyme is referred to as AtoC/Az, to indicate its dual function as both a transcriptional and post-translational regulator.ResultsThe roles of polyamines on the transcription of atoS and atoC genes as well as that of atoDAEB(ato) operon were studied. Polyamine-mediated induction was tested both in atoSC positive and negative E. coli backgrounds by using β-galactosidase reporter constructs carrying the appropriate promoters patoDAEB, patoS, patoC. In addition, a selection of synthetic polyamine analogues have been synthesized and tested for their effectiveness in inducing the expression of atoC/Az, the product of which plays a pivotal role in the feedback inhibition of putrescine biosynthesis and the transcriptional regulation of the ato operon. The effects of these compounds were also determined on the ato operon expression. The polyamine analogues were also tested for their effect on the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis and on the growth of polyamine-deficient E. coli.ConclusionPolyamines, which have been reported to induce the protein levels of AtoC/Az in E. coli, act at the transcriptional level, since they cause activation of the atoC transcription. In addition, a series of polyamine analogues were studied on the transcription of atoC gene and ODC activity.

Leishmania donovani Polyamine Biosynthetic Enzyme Overproducers as Tools To Investigate the Mode of Action of Cytotoxic Polyamine Analogs

A number of anticancer and antiparasitic drugs are postulated to target the polyamine biosynthetic pathway and polyamine function, but the exact mode of action of these compounds is still being elucidated. To establish whether polyamine analogs specifically target enzymes of the polyamine pathway, a model was developed using strains of the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani that overproduce each of the polyamine biosynthetic enzymes. Promastigotes overexpressing episomal constructs encoding ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (ADOMETDC), or spermidine synthase (SPDSYN) revealed robust overproduction of the corresponding polyamine biosynthetic enzyme. Polyamine pools, however, were either unchanged or only marginally affected, implying that regulatory mechanisms must exist. The ODC, ADOMETDC, and SPDSYN overproducer strains exhibited a high level of resistance to difluoromethylornithine, 5'-{[(Z)-4-amino-2-butenyl]methylamino}-5'-deoxyadenosine, and n-butylamine, respectively, confirming previous observations that these agents specifically target polyamine enzymes. Conversely, augmented levels of polyamine biosynthetic enzymes did not affect the sensitivity of L. donovani promastigotes to pentamidine, berenil, and mitoguazone, drugs that were postulated to target the polyamine pathway, implying alternative and/or additional targets for these agents. The sensitivities of wild-type and overproducing parasites to a variety of polyamine analogs were also tested. The polyamine enzyme-overproducing lines offer a rapid cell-based screen for assessing whether synthetic polyamine analogs exert their mechanism of action predominantly on the polyamine biosynthetic pathway in L. donovani. Furthermore, the drug resistance engendered by the amplification of target genes and the overproduction of the encoded protein offers a general strategy for evaluating and developing therapeutic agents that target specific proteins in Leishmania.

Interaction of plant amine oxidases with diaminoethers

Polyamines are ubiquitous compounds, which are involved in crucial physiological events including cell growth and differentiation. The catabolic oxidative degradation of polyamines is catalyzed by quinoprotein copper-containing amine oxidases (CAOs) and flavoprotein polyamine oxidases (PAOs). Various synthetic polyamine analogs and polyamine derivatives have been reported, which represent important tools (substrates or inhibitors) in the study of catalytic properties of the enzymes. In this work, two related compounds were studied in the reactions with plant amine oxidases: 1,8-diamino-3,6-dioxaoctane (DADO) and 1,10-bis(2- pyridinylmethyl)-4,7-dioxa-1,10-diazadecane (BPDD). Based on activity and stoichiometry assays together with spectrophotometric measurements, DADO can be considered a good substrate for grass pea, lentil and E. characias CAOs with Km values in the range 10 -4 - 10 -3 M. Its oxidative degradation produces the corresponding aminoaldehyde 8-amino-3,6-dioxaoctanal, which does not undergo spontaneous cyclization (as it is known for the oxidation products of natural substrates putrescine, cadaverine and spermidine) or polymerization in the reaction mixture. Conversely, oat PAO does not oxidize DADO and is only weakly inhibited by the compound (Ki = 1.6 mM towards putrescine). BPDD was found to be a competitive inhibitor of both CAOs and PAOs with Ki values of 10 -4 M. DADO could be suggested as a potential affinity

Novel synthetic polyamines are effective in the treatment of experimental microsporidiosis, an opportunistic AIDS-associated infection.

Microsporidia are eukaryotic obligate intracellular protists that are emerging pathogens in immunocompromised hosts, such as patients with AIDS or patients who have undergone organ transplantation. We have demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that synthetic polyamine analogs are effective antimicrosporidial agents with a broad therapeutic window. CD8-knockout mice or nude mice infected with the microsporidian Encephalitozoon cuniculi were cured when they were treated with four different novel polyamine analogs at doses ranging from 1.25 to 5 mg/kg of body weight/day for a total of 10 days. Cured animals demonstrated no evidence of parasitemia by either PCR or histologic staining of tissues 30 days after untreated control animals died.

Terminally alkylated polyamine analogues as chemotherapeutic agents.

which are found in significant amounts in nearly every prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell type. Despite the ubiquitous nature of these compounds, the precise roles that polyamines play in cellular physiology are still being defined, with new avenues for research arising continuously. As a result, there are active research programs focusing on polyamine metabolism in an extremely diverse set of disciplines. The pathways for polyamine metabolism have been elucidated for a relatively small number of organisms. There are important interspecies differences in polyamine metabolism, especially between eukaryotic cells, plants, and some bacteria and protozoa. In some prokaryotes, only putrescine and spermidine are synthesized, while in other cases, such as certain thermophilic bacteria, polyamines with chains longer than spermine are found. In some parasitic organisms, there are additional enzymes which are not present in the host cell and, as such, provide a target for the design of specific antiparasitic agents. However, the enzymes involved in human and mammalian polyamine metabolism are reasonably similar, and inhibitors targeted to these enzymes rely on the observation that polyamine metabolism is accelerated and polyamines are required in higher quantities, in target cell types. The diversity of biological research in the polyamine field is the subject of an excellent book by Seymour Cohen.1 This Perspective will deal with the use of polyamine analogues as chemotherapeutic agents, i.e., the use of synthetic polyamine analogues as anticancer or antiinfective agents. The reader should be aware of additional areas of polyamine research (polyamines as modulators of the NMDA receptor, polyamine-based venoms, polyamines as potential carriers for drug delivery, polyamines used in boron-neutron capture therapy, etc.) which are beyond the scope of this review. The polyamine pathway represents an important target for chemotherapeutic intervention, since depletion of polyamines results in the disruption of a variety * Address correspondence to: Patrick M. Woster, Ph.D, Dept. of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 539 Shapero Hall, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202. Tel: 313-577-1523. Fax: 313-577-2033. E-mail: woster@wizard.pharm.wayne.edu. † Johns Hopkins Oncology Center. § Wayne State University. Figure 1. Structures of the natural polyamines: putrescine (1), spermidine (2), and spermine (3). © Copyright 2001 by the American Chemical Society

ChemInform Abstract: Structure, Biological Activity and Synthesis of Polyamine Analogues and Conjugates

The structure and the biological significance of naturally occurring and synthetic polyamine analogues and conjugates are presented and the available methodologies for their synthesis are described. These methodologies involve either the selective functionalization of the amino functions, using suitable protecting groups or acylating agents, or fragment synthesis protocols. The latter employ suitable amino components and simple reactions, like Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated nitriles, alkylation of amines and sulfonamides, reductive alkylation and acylation followed by reduction of the thus-obtained amides, as key-reactions, or azides as key-intermediates, for the assembly of the polyamine skeleton. Syntheses performed in solution as well as in the solid phase are discussed.

Circular Dichroism and NMR Studies of Metabolically Stableα-Methylpolyamines: Spectral Comparison with Naturally Occurring Polyamines

Three synthetic polyamine analogs, α-methylspermine, and α,α′-dimethylspermine, were compared with their naturally occurring counterparts, spermidine and spermine, by two different spectral techniques. The interaction of polyamines with oligodeoxynucleotides was measured by circular dichroism in order to monitor the polyamine-induced conversion of right-handed B-DNA to the left-handed Z-form. The methylated analogs were shown to be equally effective as the natural polyamines in inducing the B → Z transition. The pH dependence of the chemical shift of all carbon atoms in each of the five polyamines was measured by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. With the exception of expected changes in chemical shift due to the presence of the α-methyl substituents, the chemical shifts and pH dependence of all carbon atoms in the three α-methyl polyamines were similar to the corresponding naturally occurring polyamines. The combined data indicate that α-methyl polyamines have physical properties that are very similar to their natural counterparts. The two metabolically stable polyamine analogs, α-methylspermidine and α,α′-dimethylspermine, are therefore useful surrogates for spermidine and spermine in the study of numerous polyamine-mediated effects in mammalian cell cultures and can be used in such studies without the requirement for coadministration of amine oxidase inhibitors.

Structure, Biological Activity and Synthesis of Polyamine Analogues and Conjugates

The structure and the biological significance of naturally occurring and synthetic polyamine analogues and conjugates are presented and the available methodologies for their synthesis are described. These methodologies involve either the selective functionalization of the amino functions, using suitable protecting groups or acylating agents, or fragment synthesis protocols. The latter employ suitable amino components and simple reactions, like Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated nitriles, alkylation of amines and sulfonamides, reductive alkylation and acylation followed by reduction of the thus-obtained amides, as key-reactions, or azides as key-intermediates, for the assembly of the polyamine skeleton. Syntheses performed in solution as well as in the solid phase are discussed.

Structure, Biological Activity and Synthesis of Polyamine Analogues and Conjugates

The structure and the biological significance of naturally occurring and synthetic polyamine analogues and conjugates are presented and the available methodologies for their synthesis are described. These methodologies involve either the selective functionalization of the amino functions, using suitable protecting groups or acylating agents, or fragment synthesis protocols. The latter employ suitable amino components and simple reactions, like Michael addition to α,β-unsaturated nitriles, alkylation of amines and sulfonamides, reductive alkylation and acylation followed by reduction of the thus-obtained amides, as key-reactions, or azides as key-intermediates, for the assembly of the polyamine skeleton. Syntheses performed in solution as well as in the solid phase are discussed.

A novel cytotoxic agent for human carcinoid tumors

Background: Conventional adjuvant therapy for advanced carcinoid tumors remains disappointing; novel therapeutic agents are needed. We have shown previously that inhibiting polyamine biosynthesis with αdifluoromethylornithine (DFMO) slows the growth of carcinoid tumors. However, the clinical utility of DFMO has been limited by its cytostatic property. Synthetic polyamine analogs such as 1,19-bis(ethylamino)-5,10,15-triaztanonadecane (BE-4-4-4-4) appear to be cytotoxic against several human tumors. The purpose of our study was to determine whether BE-4-4-4-4 is a more effective antiproliferative and cytotoxic agent than DFMO on human carcinoid (BON) cells in vitro. Methods: BON cells were treated with either 5 mmol/L DFMO, 0.5 to 10 μmol/L BE-4-4-4-4, or vehicle (control). Ornithine decarboxylase activity was determined by the rate of 14CO 2 production, and intracellular polyamine levels were determined by chromatography. Cell number and viability were determined by Coulter counter and trypan blue exclusion, respectively. Results: BE-4-4-4-4 inhibited ornithine decarboxylase activity and depleted all 3 polyamines. BE-4-4-4-4 decreased cell numbers by 81% compared with control and 27% compared with DFMO. BE-4-4-4-4 also induced a 2-fold increase in cell death compared with control or DFMO. Conclusions: BE-4-4-4-4 is cytotoxic and more effective than DFMO in inhibiting growth of BON cells. Polyamine analogs such as BE-4-4-4-4 may be effective adjuvant therapeutic agents for advanced carcinoid tumors. (Surgery 1998;124:1071-6.)

Interactions of polyamines with ion channels.

Endogenous polyamines, in particular spermine, have been found to cause block and modulation of a number of types of ion channel. Intracellular spermine is responsible for intrinsic gating and rectification of strong inward rectifier K+ channels by directly plugging the ion channel pore. These K+ channels control the resting membrane potential in both excitable and non-excitable cells, and control the excitability threshold in neurons and muscle cells. Intracellular spermine causes inward rectification at some subtypes of Ca2+-permeable glutamate receptors in the central nervous system, again by plugging the receptor channel pore, and spermine can even permeate the ion channel of these receptors. Extracellular spermine has multiple effects at the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptor, including stimulation that increases the size of NMDA receptor currents, and voltage-dependent block. A number of polyamine-conjugated arthropod toxins and synthetic polyamine analogues are potent antagonists of glutamate receptors, and represent new tools with which to study these receptors. Interactions of polyamines with other types of cation channels have been reported. This area of research represents a new biology and a new pharmacology of polyamines.

Molecular Requirements for Polyamines Binding to the Antispermine Monoclonal Antibody Spm8-2

The monoclonal antispermine antibody Spm8-2 was obtained by immunizing mice with a thyroglobulin-spermine conjugate. The molecular requirements for polyamines binding to this antibody were investigated by ELISA binding and inhibition tests, using a variety of natural polyamines and synthetic polyamine analogs. Four major structural determinants are important for the binding of polyamines by the antibody: (1) terminal amino groups: N-alkylation of both terminal amino groups of the polyamines leads to an important drop in the affinity for the antibody; (2) number of methylene groups spacing the amino groups: the four carbon chains appear to present the optimum length since the antibody binds polyamines with repeats of the aminobutyl moiety more actively than their homologues with shorter or longer carbon chains; (3) number of amino groups: the affinity of Spm8-2 for free homologous polyamines varied in the following order: pentamines > tetramines > triamines > diamines, showing the importance of the number of positive charges of the polyamines in the antibody-antigen reaction; the importance of charges is further emphasized by the dependence of antibody binding on the ionic strength of the medium; (4) N-acylation of one terminal amino group: the antibody binds more actively N1-acetylspermidine than spermidine or spermine. The binding properties of Spm8-2 suggest the presence of two recognition sequences, one selective for N-acylaminopropyl moieties, the second for the aminobutyl moiety.

Synthetic polyamine analogues as antineoplastics.

In this paper, we report on the synthesis and biological activity of a number of N-alkylated spermine compounds. The dialkylspermines N1,N12-dimethylspermine (DMSPM-2), N1,N12-diethylspermine (DESPM-3), and N1,N12-dipropylspermine (DPSPM-4) are all shown to inhibit the growth of L1210 cells in culture with IC50 values of less than 1 microM at 96 h. Furthermore, DESPM-3 is shown to be similarly active against Daudi and HL-60 cells in culture. A structure-activity relationship is shown to exist between the position at which spermine is alkylated and its antiproliferative properties. The activity of 10 microM DESPM-3 against L1210 cells was shown to be cytostatic, with greater than 90% cell viability by trypan blue exclusion, even after a 144-h exposure. When L1210 cells were treated with 10 microM DESPM-3 over a 144-h period, their size and mitochondrial DNA content were gradually but substantially diminished. However, flow cytometric measurements of the nuclear DNA content of these treated cells at 96 h indicated only slightly reduced S and G2 populations and significant changes only after 144 h. A cloning assay performed on the cells after 96 h of exposure to this drug (10 microM) indicated that the cells were not growing. Finally, when male DBA/2 mice, inoculated with L1210 leukemia cells, were treated with DESPM-3, their life span was increased in excess of 200% relative to untreated controls. Moreover, many long-term survivors were apparently tumor free at the end of the experiment (60 days).

Regulation of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase in L6 cells by polyamines and related compounds.

Exposure of rat L6 cells in culture to exogenous polyamines led to a very large increase in the activity of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase. Spermine was more potent than spermidine in bringing about this increase, but in both cases the elevated acetyltransferase activity increased the cellular conversion of spermidine into putrescine. The N1-acetyltransferase turned over very rapidly in the L6 cells, with a half-life of 9 min after spermidine and 18 min after spermine. A wide variety of synthetic polyamine analogues also brought about a substantial induction of spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase activity. These included sym-norspermidine, sym-norspermine, sym-homospermidine, N4-substituted spermidine derivatives, 1,3,6-triaminohexane, 1,4,7-triaminoheptane and deoxyspergualin, which were comparable with spermidine in their potency, and N1N8-bis(ethyl)spermidine, N1N9-bis(ethyl)homospermidine, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), ethylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) and 1,1'-[(methylethanediylidene)dinitrilo]bis(3-amino-guanidine ), which were even more active than spermidine. It is suggested that these polyamine analogues may bring about a decrease in cellular polyamines not only by inhibiting biosynthesis but by stimulating the degradation of spermidine into putrescine.