polyamine

[ pol-ee-uh-meen, -am-in ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a compound containing more than one amino group.

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyamine¹

First recorded in 1860–65; poly- + -amine

Example Sentences

By using stable isotope tracers and analyzing gene expression, the researchers showed that S. gordonii releases a substance called ornithine that prompts F. nucleatum to produce more of a molecule called polyamine.

From Science Daily

Because F. nucleatum needs methionine to produce polyamine, this enhanced polyamine production activates its methionine salvage pathway, which in turn results in increased CH3SH production.

From Science Daily

Spermidine is a type of molecule called a polyamine.

From Nature

This finding led the authors to speculate that polyamine export might be involved in protecting cells against oxidative stress.

From Nature

Although yeast cells have not previously been reported to produce cadaverine, they make another polyamine, putrescine, by decarboxylating the amino acid ornithine4.

From Nature