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. 1978 Feb;75(2):1039–1042. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.2.1039

Inhibition of putrescine synthesis blocks development of the polychete Ophryotrocha labronica at gastrulation.

H Emanuelsson, O Heby
PMCID: PMC411396  PMID: 273215

Abstract

Development eggs of the polychete Ophryotrocha labronica were analyzed for polyamines during the first 6 days after fertilization. The spermine content dominated initially, but gradually decreased. It was surpassed by putrescine, which rapidly increased to a maximum on the 3rd day, i.e., at the inception of grastrulation. The spermidine content was low during the entire period. Treatment of eggs with the putrescine synthesis inhibitor alpha-methylornithine from the onset of development led to developmental arrest at gastrulation and to an abnormally low content of putrescine in the treated embryos. Methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone), an inhibitor of spermine and spermidine synthesis, had no visible effect of development. Our observations strongly suggest that putrescine synthesis is indispensable in early embryonic development of Ophryotrocha.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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