[en] The naturally occurring polyamines, putrescine, spermidine and spermine, and the analogue cadaverine, induce a dose-dependent histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. Spermine was the most active among these polycationic metabolites, followed by spermidine and putrescine. The histamine release was inhibited by a 2 h pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml), demonstrating the involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding regulatory protein during the exocytotic process. Experiments performed with purified Go/Gi proteins reconstituted into phospholipid vesicles showed a direct stimulation of GTPase activity by the polyamines. This direct stimulation of G proteins and the consequent activation of the coupled effectors may represent a new mechanism of action for natural polyamines controlling receptor-dependent processes.
Disciplines :
Biochemistry, biophysics & molecular biology
Identifiers :
UNILU:UL-ARTICLE-2008-202
Author, co-author :
Bueb, Jean-Luc ; University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Science, Technology and Communication (FSTC) > Life Science Research Unit
Mousli, M.
Landry, Y.
Language :
English
Title :
Molecular basis for cellular effects of naturally occurring polyamines