Polyamines

The polyamines spermidine [NH2 (CH2 )3 NH(CH2 )4 NH2 ] and spermine [NH2 (CH2 )3 NH(CH2 )4 NH(CH2 )3 NH2 ] and their diamine precursor, putrescine [NH2 (CH2 )4 NH2 ], have been the subject of intense study relative to their potential as tumor markers during the past decade (1 ). These compounds have been implicated in numerous biochemical reactions and have been clearly associated with cellular growth processes. A number of publications have reviewed our present knowledge regarding these compounds, including their relationship to human disease (2 –6 ).