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Putrescine uptake regulation in response to alpha-difluoromethylornithine treatment in Leishmania infantum promastigotes

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Summary

The putrescine uptake/efflux regulation and their regulatory role on intracellular polyamine pools have been studied in the parasitic protozoa Leishmania infantum. Putrescine uptake was age-dependent with maximal values in logarithmic phase promastigotes and minimal in stationary phase. Moreover, putrescine uptake was activated in response to depletion of intracellular polyamines by alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) — a well known irreversible enzyme-activated inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase. Kinetic studies of putrescine uptake induction showed a notable rise in Vmax without Km changes, suggesting a de novo synthesis of putrescine carriers. Putrescine uptake was able to replenish polyamine content and also to recover the proliferative rate in cells treated during 24 hours with DFMO.

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Author notes

  1. Rafael Balaña Fouce

    Present address: Dpt. Molecular and Cellular Physiology & Pharmacology. The Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, 17033, Hershey, PA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dpto. Fisiología, Farmacología y Toxicología, Ftad. Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain

    Rafael Balaña Fouce

  2. Dpto. Fisiología Vegetal, Ftad. Ciencias, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Maria I. Escribano

  3. Dpto. Patología Animal I, Ftad. Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain

    Jose M. Alunda

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  1. Rafael Balaña Fouce
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  2. Maria I. Escribano
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  3. Jose M. Alunda
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Balaña Fouce, R., Escribano, M.I. & Alunda, J.M. Putrescine uptake regulation in response to alpha-difluoromethylornithine treatment in Leishmania infantum promastigotes. Mol Cell Biochem 107, 127–133 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00225516

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