POLYAMINE METABOLISM AND ITS REGULATION

Data obtained in bacteria and mammals have revealed the existence of t ranscriptional, translational and/or post-translational mechanisms con trolling polyamine metabolism. In plants, most of the genes encoding p olyamine biosynthetic enzymes have recently been isolated and antibodi es to some are available, These tools have been used to initiate the s tudy of the regulatory mechanisms controlling cellular polyamine level s in plants. as weil as to attempt the alteration of polyamine metabol ic fluxes in transgenic plants. The transgenic approach has increased our understanding of how polyamines might function and how this could be used for achieving beneficial biotechnological applications. The ai m of this review is to cover both of these basic and applied aspects.