Difluoromethylornithine rebalances aberrant polyamine ratios in Snyder-Robinson syndrome.

Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS) results from mutations in spermine synthase (SMS), which converts the polyamine spermidine into spermine. Affecting primarily males, common manifestations of SRS include intellectual disability, osteoporosis, hypotonia, and seizures. Symptom management is the only treatment. Reduced SMS activity causes spermidine accumulation while spermine levels are reduced. The resulting exaggerated spermidine:spermine ratio is a biochemical hallmark of SRS that tends to correlate with symptom severity. Our studies aim to pharmacologically manipulate polyamine metabolism to correct this imbalance as a therapeutic strategy for SRS. Here we report the repurposing of 2-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an FDA-approved inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis, in rebalancing spermidine:spermine ratios in SRS patient cells. Mechanistic in vitro studies demonstrate that, while reducing spermidine biosynthesis, DFMO also stimulates the conversion of spermidine into spermine in hypomorphic SMS cells and induces uptake of exogenous spermine, altogether reducing the aberrant ratios. In a Drosophila SRS model characterized by reduced lifespan, DFMO improves longevity. As nearly all SRS patient mutations are hypomorphic, these studies form a strong foundation for translational studies with significant therapeutic potential.

Antibacterial Activity of Peptide Derivatives of Phosphinothricin against Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The fast spread of bacteria that are resistant to many classes of antibiotics (multidrug resistant) is a global threat to human and animal health with a worrisome scenario ahead. Novel therapeutical strategies are of crucial importance to combat this phenomenon. For this purpose, we investigated the antimicrobial properties of the naturally occurring tripeptide Bialaphos and a dipeptide L-leucyl-L-phosphinoithricin, the synthesis and diastereomers separation of which are herein described. We demonstrate that these compounds are effective on clinical isolates of the human pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae, causing hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections. The tested isolates were remarkable for their resistance to more than 20 commercial antibiotics of different classes. Based on previous literature data and our experiments consisting of glutamine supplementation, we suggest that both compounds release phosphinothricin-a well-known nanomolar inhibitor of glutamine synthetase-after their penetration in the bacterial cells; and, in this way, exert their antibacterial effect by negatively affecting nitrogen assimilation in this pathogen.

α-Difluoromethylornithine-Induced Cytostasis is Reversed by Exogenous Polyamines, Not by Thymidine Supplementation.

Polyamine spermidine is essential for the proliferation of eukaryotic cells. Administration of polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) induces cytostasis that occurs in two phases; the early phase which can be reversed by spermidine, spermine, and some of their analogs, and the late phase which is characterized by practically complete depletion of cellular spermidine pool. The growth of cells at the late phase can be reversed by spermidine and by very few of its analogs, including (S)-1-methylspermidine. It was reported previously (Witherspoon et al. Cancer Discovery 3(9); 1072-81, 2013) that DFMO treatment leads to depletion of cellular thymidine pools, and that exogenous thymidine supplementation partially prevents DFMO-induced cytostasis without affecting intracellular polyamine pools in HT-29, SW480, and LoVo colorectal cancer cells. Here we show that thymidine did not prevent DFMO-induced cytostasis in DU145, LNCaP, MCF7, CaCo2, BT4C, SV40MES13, HepG2, HEK293, NIH3T3, ARPE19 or HT-29 cell lines, whereas administration of functionally active mimetic of spermidine, (S)-1-methylspermidine, did. Thus, the effect of thymidine seems to be specific only for certain cell lines. We conclude that decreased polyamine levels and possibly also distorted pools of folate-dependent metabolites mediate the anti-proliferative actions of DFMO. However, polyamines are necessary and sufficient to overcome DFMO-induced cytostasis, while thymidine is generally not.

Hydroxylamine Analogue of Agmatine: Magic Bullet for Arginine Decarboxylase.

The biogenic polyamines, spermine, spermidine (Spd) and putrescine (Put) are present at micro-millimolar concentrations in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells (many prokaryotes have no spermine), participating in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation. In mammalian cells Put is formed exclusively from L-ornithine by ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and many potent ODC inhibitors are known. In bacteria, plants, and fungi Put is synthesized also from agmatine, which is formed from L-arginine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC). Here we demonstrate that the isosteric hydroxylamine analogue of agmatine (AO-Agm) is a new and very potent (IC50 3•10-8 M) inhibitor of E. coli ADC. It was almost two orders of magnitude less potent towards E. coli ODC. AO-Agm decreased polyamine pools and inhibited the growth of DU145 prostate cancer cells only at high concentration (1 mM). Growth inhibitory analysis of the Acremonium chrysogenum demonstrated that the wild type (WT) strain synthesized Put only from L-ornithine, while the cephalosporin C high-yielding strain, in which the polyamine pool is increased, could use both ODC and ADC to produce Put. Thus, AO-Agm is an important addition to the set of existing inhibitors of the enzymes of polyamine biosynthesis, and an important instrument for investigating polyamine biochemistry.

(R,R)-1,12-Dimethylspermine can mitigate abnormal spermidine accumulation in Snyder-Robinson syndrome.

Snyder-Robinson syndrome (SRS) is an X-linked intellectual disability syndrome caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the spermine synthase (SMS) gene. Primarily affecting males, the main manifestations of SRS include osteoporosis, hypotonic stature, seizures, cognitive impairment, and developmental delay. Because there is no cure for SRS, treatment plans focus on alleviating symptoms rather than targeting the underlying causes. Biochemically, the cells of individuals with SRS accumulate excess spermidine, whereas spermine levels are reduced. We recently demonstrated that SRS patient-derived lymphoblastoid cells are capable of transporting exogenous spermine and its analogs into the cell and, in response, decreasing excess spermidine pools to normal levels. However, dietary supplementation of spermine does not appear to benefit SRS patients or mouse models. Here, we investigated the potential use of a metabolically stable spermine mimetic, (R,R)-1,12-dimethylspermine (Me2SPM), to reduce the intracellular spermidine pools of SRS patient-derived cells. Me2SPM can functionally substitute for the native polyamines in supporting cell growth while stimulating polyamine homeostatic control mechanisms. We found that both lymphoblasts and fibroblasts from SRS patients can accumulate Me2SPM, resulting in significantly decreased spermidine levels with no adverse effects on growth. Me2SPM administration to mice revealed that Me2SPM significantly decreases spermidine levels in multiple tissues. Importantly, Me2SPM was detectable in brain tissue, the organ most affected in SRS, and was associated with changes in polyamine metabolic enzymes. These findings indicate that the (R,R)-diastereomer of 1,12-Me2SPM represents a promising lead compound in developing a treatment aimed at targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying SRS pathology.

Unforeseen Possibilities To Investigate the Regulation of Polyamine Metabolism Revealed by Novel C-Methylated Spermine Derivatives.

The biogenic polyamines, spermine (Spm) and spermidine, are organic polycations present in millimolar concentrations in all eukaryotic cells participating in the regulation of vital cellular functions including proliferation and differentiation. The design and biochemical evaluation of polyamine analogues are cornerstones of polyamine research. Here we synthesized and studied novel C-methylated Spm analogues: 2,11-dimethylspermine (2,11-Me2Spm), 3,10-dimethylspermine (3,10-Me2Spm), 2-methylspermine, and 2,2-dimethylspermine. The tested analogues overcame growth arrest induced by a 72 h treatment with α-difluoromethylornithine, an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, and entered into DU145 cells via the polyamine transporter. 3,10-Me2Spm was a poor substrate of spermine oxidase and spermidine/spermine-N1-acetyltransferase (SSAT) when compared with 2,11-Me2Spm, thus resembling 1,12-dimethylspermine, which lacks the substrate properties required for the SSAT reaction. The antizyme (OAZ1)-mediated downregulation of ODC and inhibition of polyamine transport are crucial in the maintenance of polyamine homeostasis. Interestingly, 3,10-Me2Spm was found to be the first Spm analogue that did not induce OAZ1 and, consequently, was a weak downregulator of ODC activity in DU145 cells.

Spermidine promotes Bacillus subtilis biofilm formation by activating expression of the matrix regulator slrR.

Ubiquitous polyamine spermidine is not required for normal planktonic growth of Bacillus subtilis but is essential for robust biofilm formation. However, the structural features of spermidine required for B. subtilis biofilm formation are unknown and so are the molecular mechanisms of spermidine-stimulated biofilm development. We report here that in a spermidine-deficient B. subtilis mutant, the structural analogue norspermidine, but not homospermidine, restored biofilm formation. Intracellular biosynthesis of another spermidine analogue, aminopropylcadaverine, from exogenously supplied homoagmatine also restored biofilm formation. The differential ability of C-methylated spermidine analogues to functionally replace spermidine in biofilm formation indicated that the aminopropyl moiety of spermidine is more sensitive to C-methylation, which it is essential for biofilm formation, but that the length and symmetry of the molecule is not critical. Transcriptomic analysis of a spermidine-depleted B. subtilis speD mutant uncovered a nitrogen-, methionine-, and S-adenosylmethionine-sufficiency response, resulting in repression of gene expression related to purine catabolism, methionine and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis and methionine salvage, and signs of altered membrane status. Consistent with the spermidine requirement in biofilm formation, single-cell analysis of this mutant indicated reduced expression of the operons for production of the exopolysaccharide and TasA protein biofilm matrix components and SinR antagonist slrR Deletion of sinR or ectopic expression of slrR in the spermidine-deficient ΔspeD background restored biofilm formation, indicating that spermidine is required for expression of the biofilm regulator slrR Our results indicate that spermidine functions in biofilm development by activating transcription of the biofilm matrix exopolysaccharide and TasA operons through the regulator slrR.

Triethylenetetramine modulates polyamine and energy metabolism and inhibits cancer cell proliferation.

Polyamine metabolism is an attractive anticancer drug target, since polyamines are absolutely required for cellular proliferation, and increased levels of polyamines and their biosynthetic enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) are associated with cancer. Triethylenetetramine (TETA) is a charge-deficient isosteric analogue of the polyamine spermidine (Spd) and a Cu(II)-chelating compound used for the treatment of Wilson's disease, and it has been implicated as a potential anticancer therapeutic drug. In the present study, we studied the effects of TETA in comparison with two other Cu(II)-chelators, D-penicillamine (PA) and tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), on polyamine metabolism in DU145 prostate carcinoma, MCF-7 breast carcinoma and JEG-3 choriocarcinoma cells. TETA induced antizyme, down-regulated ODC and inhibited [(14)C] Spd uptake. Moreover, it completely prevented α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)-induced increase in [(14)C] Spd uptake, and inhibited [(14)C] putrescine (Put) uptake and ODC activity in vivo Seven-day treatment of DU145 cells with TETA caused growth cessation by reducing intracellular polyamine levels and suppressing the formation of hypusinated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). TETA or its N-acetylated metabolites also inhibited spermine (Spm), diamine and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidases and decreased the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. Moreover, TETA inhibited the utilization of Put as energy source via the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, as indicated by decreased production of (14)CO2 from [(14)C] Put. These results indicate that TETA attacks multiple proven anticancer drug targets not attributed to copper chelation, which warrants further studies to reveal its potential in cancer chemoprevention and cure.

Enantiomers of 3-methylspermidine selectively modulate deoxyhypusine synthesis and reveal important determinants for spermidine transport.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) is essential for cell proliferation, becoming functionally active only after post-translational conversion of a specific Lys to hypusine [N(ε)-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)lysine]. Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) is the rate-limiting enzyme of this two-step process, and the polyamine spermidine is the only natural donor of the butylamine group for this reaction, which is very conserved-hypusine biosynthesis suffers last when the intracellular spermidine pool is depleted. DHS has a very strict substrate specificity, and only a few spermidine analogs are substrates of the enzyme and can support long-term growth of spermidine-depleted cells. Herein, we compared the biological properties of earlier unknown enantiomers of 3-methylspermidine (3-MeSpd) in deoxyhypusine synthesis, in supporting cell growth and in polyamine transport. Long-term treatment of DU145 cells with α-difluoromethylornithine (inhibitor of polyamine biosynthesis) and (R)-3-MeSpd did not cause depletion of hypusinated eIF5A, and the cells were still able to grow, whereas the combination of α-difluoromethylornithine with a racemate or (S)-3-MeSpd caused cessation of cell growth. Noticeably, DHS preferred the (R)- over the (S)-enantiomer as a substrate. (R)-3-MeSpd competed with [(14)C]-labeled spermidine for cellular uptake less efficiently than the (S)-3-MeSpd (Ki = 141 µM vs 19 µM, respectively). The cells treated with racemic 3-MeSpd accumulated intracellularly mainly (S)-3-MeSpd, but not DHS substrate (R)-3-MeSpd, explaining the inability of the racemate to support long-term growth. The distinct properties of 3-MeSpd enantiomers can be exploited in designing polyamine uptake inhibitors, facilitating drug delivery and modulating deoxyhypusine synthesis.

Effects of novel C-methylated spermidine analogs on cell growth via hypusination of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A.

The polyamines, putrescine, spermidine, and spermine, are ubiquitous multifunctional cations essential for cellular proliferation. One specific function of spermidine in cell growth is its role as a butylamine donor for hypusine synthesis in the eukaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF5A). Here, we report the ability of novel mono-methylated spermidine analogs (α-MeSpd, ß-MeSpd, γ-MeSpd, and ω-MeSpd) to function in the hypusination of eIF5A and in supporting the growth of DFMO-treated DU145 cells. We also tested them as substrates and inhibitors for deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) in vitro. Of these compounds, α-MeSpd, ß-MeSpd, and γ-MeSpd (but not ω-MeSpd) were substrates for DHS in vitro, while they all inhibited the enzyme reaction. As racemic mixtures, only α-MeSpd and ß-MeSpd supported long-term growth (9-18 days) of spermidine-depleted DU145 cells, whereas γ-MeSpd and ω-MeSpd did not. The S-enantiomer of α-MeSpd, which supported long-term growth, was a good substrate for DHS in vitro, whereas the R-isomer was not. The long-term growth of DFMO-treated cells correlated with the hypusine modification of eIF5A by intracellular methylated spermidine analogs. These results underscore the critical requirement for hypusine modification in mammalian cell proliferation and provide new insights into the specificity of the deoxyhypusine synthase reaction.

The use of novel C-methylated spermidine derivatives to investigate the regulation of polyamine metabolism.

The polyamines are organic polycations present at millimolar concentrations in eukaryotic cells where they participate in the regulation of vital cellular functions including proliferation and differentiation. Biological evaluation of rationally designed polyamine analogs is one of the cornerstones of polyamine research. Here we have synthesized and characterized novel C-methylated spermidine analogs, that is, 2-methylspermidine, 3-methylspermidine, and 8-methylspermidine. 3-Methylspermidine was found to be metabolically stable in DU145 cells, while 8-methylspermidine was a substrate for spermidine/spermine N(1)-acetyltransferase (SSAT) and 2-methylspermidine was a substrate for both SSAT and acetylpolyamine oxidase. All the analogs induced the splicing of the productive mRNA splice variant of SSAT, overcame growth arrest induced by 72-h treatment with ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor α-difluoromethylornithine, and were transported via the polyamine transporter. Surprisingly, 2-methylspermidine was a weak downregulator of ODC activity in DU145 cells. Our data demonstrates that it is possible to radically alter the biochemical properties of a polyamine analog by changing the position of the methyl group.