Cloning, expression, characterisation and three-dimensional structure determination of Caenorhabditis elegans spermidine synthase

• The polyamine synthesis enzyme spermidine synthase (SPDS) has been cloned from the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Biochemical characterisation of the recombinantly expressed protein revealed a high degree of similarity to other eukaryotic SPDS with the exception of a low affinity towards the substrate decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine (K-m = 110 mu M) and a less pronounced feedback inhibition by the second reaction product 5 '-methylthioadenosine (IC50 = 430 mu M). The C elegans protein that carries a nematode-specific insertion of 27 amino acids close to its N-terminus was crystallized, leading to the first X-ray structure of a dimeric eukaryotic SPDS. (c) 2005 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)