Ornithine decarboxylase and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase are induced in K562 cells by S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase inhibitor methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) but not by analogous methylglyoxal bis(butylamidinohydrazone)

Structure-function correlations of polyamine analog-induced increases in spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase activity

The cytosolic enzyme, spermidine/spermine acetyltransferase (SSAT), is distinguished by its role in polyamine interconversion and by its high inducibility in response to a variety of physiological and pharmacological stimuli. Among a series of fifteen polyamines and polyamine analogs, the most potent inducers of SSAT activity in cultured L1210 cells were found to be N1,N8-bis(ethyl)spermidine (BES) and N1,N12-bis(ethyl)spermine (BESm). Over a 24-hr exposure at 10 microM, enzyme activity rose 13- and 16-fold with BES and BESm, respectively, compared to 2- to 3-fold with the anticancer agent, methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone). The increase in enzyme activity by BESm began rapidly and continued steadily with time so that by 48 hr it increased to about twenty times control. By inhibitor studies, the increase was found to be due to elevated protein synthesis predominantly at the level of translation and to an apparent prolongation of enzyme half-life related to enzyme stabilization. Among the analogs, the structural requirements for maximum enzyme induction were found to be critically dependent on aminopropyl moieties and on the presence, size and location of the alkyl groups. By structure-function comparisons, it was deduced that the known abilities of BES and BESm to regulate ornithine and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activities or to inhibit cell growth occur independently of their effects on SSAT activity in L1210 cells.

Stabilization of ornithine decarboxylase in mouse liver and lung by methylglyoxal bis(cyclohexylamidinohydrazone)

The intraperitoneal injection of methylglyoxal bis(cyclohexylamidinohydrazone) (MGBC), an inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase and spermidine synthase, markedly increased (7-fold of the basal level at 4 hr) ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in normal mouse liver. ODC activity was also increased 2.5-fold over the basal level in mouse lung at 6 hr after the injection. The effect of MGBC on ODC activity occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Measurement of the apparent half-life of ODC induced in the liver and lung by MGBC treatment revealed a clear decrease in the decay rate of the enzyme in both the tissues. Activities of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) and spermidine/spermine N1-acetyltransferase (SAT) were not increased by the intraperitoneal injection of MGBC. There was a large rise in putrescine and a fall in spermidine and spermine in the liver and lung except for brain within an 8 hr period in response to MGBC, suggesting that these changes resulted from the stabilization of ODC and inhibitions of AdoMetDC and spermidine synthase.

Antitumor effect of methylglyoxal bis(3-aminopropylamidinohydrazone), a new inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine and ornithine decarboxylases, on human erythroid leukemia K562 cells

Methylglyoxal bis(3-aminopropylamidinohydrazone (MGBA) inhibited S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) activity competitively with S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), showing a Ki value of 2.60 x 10(-5) M. It also inhibited ornithine decarboxylase competitively with ornithine, showing a Ki value of 3.80 x 10(-5) M. MGBA inhibited the growth of human erythroid leukemia K562 cells. Putrescine, spermidine, and spermine concentrations in MGBA-treated cells were depressed to 19%, 36%, and 66% of the values of control cells, respectively.

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity in mouse tissues by phorbol ester is effectively blocked by methylglyoxal bis(butylamidinohydrazone)

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) was induced in the liver, lung and brain of the mouse injected intraperitoneally with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), showing maximal enzyme activity four hours after the injection. The increase of ODC activity was due to the enhanced syntheses of mRNA and protein. The induction of ODC activity by TPA was specifically blocked by methylglyoxal bis(butylamidinohydrazone) (MGBB), a competitive inhibitor of ODC and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, but not by the analog methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG).