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Incubation of rat brain 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase with 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid, a substrate analog of 4-aminobutyric acid, results in a time-dependent irreversible loss of enzymatic activity. In the presence of 0.1 mM inhibitor the half-life of the inactivation process is approximately 6 min. Low concentrations of L-glutamic acid or 4-aminobutyric acid protect against this inactivation, while 2-oxoglutarate prevents this protection, suggesting that only the pyridoxal form of the enzyme is susceptible to inhibition by 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid. The irreversible inhibition of mammalian 4-aminobutyrate aminotransferase by 4-amino-hex-5-enoic acid is selective. There is no inhibition of this enzyme from Pseudomonas fluorescens with the inhibitor at mM concentrations. Even at 10 mM there is no irreversible inhibition of mammalian glutamate decarboxylase or of aspartate aminotransferase, while alanine aminotransferase is inhibited over 500 times more slowly than rat brain 4-aminobutyrate transaminase.

DL-alpha-Difluoromethylornithine (F2MeOrn), the most widely-used inhibitor of L-ornithine decarboxylase, has been a useful tool to demonstrate that polyamine biosynthesis is required to maintain maximum rates of cell proliferation. However, in most eukaryotic cell systems, F2MeOrn exerts cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effects. This may be due to the fact that this inhibitor creates only incomplete polyamine deficiency. In particular, F2MeOrn scarcely depletes intracellular spermine levels. We now demonstrate in rat hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells that (2R, 5R)-6-heptyne-2,5-diamine, a more potent irreversible inhibitor of L-ornithine decarboxylase than F2MeOrn, decreases the concentrations of all polyamines including spermine. In parallel with the depletion of these amines, there is a progressive decrease in the rate of cell proliferation and in cell viability. Restoration of the intracellular polyamine content, by addition to the medium of polyamines or a high concentration of L-ornithine, the substrate of L-ornithine decarboxylase, further demonstrates that the antiproliferative effects of (2R, 5R)-6-heptyne-2,5-diamine do result from polyamine deficiency. These findings support the concept that polyamines play an essential function in the cell division processes and emphasize the vital function of spermine in mammalian cells.