Enzymatic assay for spermidine.

The polyamine spermidine (NH,(CH&NH(CH&NH,) is widespread in nature. It is present in mammalian tissues (1, 2), plants (3), bacteria (47), ribosomes (6, 8), and bacteriophages (9-11). There are various methods for its identification, including steam distillation (12)) paper chromatography (13-18)) paper electrophoresis (14, 16, 17, 19), ion exchange chromatography (2, 5), gas chromatography (31), and bioassay (20). Paper chromatography, electrophoresis, and steam distillation are not precise methods. Ion exchange chromatography, on the other hand, is accurate but too elaborate for routine use. This paper deals with a specific and sensitive enzymatic method for the determination of spermidine. The method is based on the formation of A’-pyrroline from spermidine, by freeze-dried spermidine-adapted Xerratia marcescens cells. The enzymatic oxidation of spermidine proceeds according to Reaction 1 (2123).