Polyamines are central molecules in nitrogen metabolism

GROPPA M.D.; RECALDE L.; BENAVIDES M.P.

Current Topics in Peptide and Protein Research

Research Trends

Año: 2018

0972-4524

Nitrogen (N) is one of the main nutrients for plantsand is a constituent of many stable compoundssuch as amino acids, proteins and many othermolecules such as polyamines (PAs). Plant growthis mostly dependent on tissue N concentration, butfrequently, N availability from the environment isscarce, and consequently, plant productivity canbe compromised. Polyamines are simple moleculesessential for survival. They are able to influenceand regulate various developmental processes aswell as plant responses to environmental stress.This review summarizes recent advances in thestudy of the multifaceted behaviour of PAs duringthe lifespan of the plants, and the study of theirmetabolism as a part of a network of highlyinterdependent pathways associated to N metabolisminvolving the relationship among their precursors,like glutamate, arginine and ornitine, intermediatesand catabolic products like nitric oxide andγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA).