# GROWTH REGULATION OF POLYAMINE SYNTHESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 1992 · $165,173

## Abstract

The polyamines, spermidine and spermine, occur ubiquitously in nature and
have been found to be necessary for normal and neoplastic cell growth.
Polyamine biosynthesis is an important target for experimental cancer
chemotherapy.  S-Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AdoMetDC) is a key
regulated enzyme in the pathway of polyamine biosynthesis and expression
of the AdoMetDC gene is controlled by exogenous regulatory signals from
growth factors and hormones, as well as by the endogenous levels of the
polyamine endproducts of the pathway.  Regulation of AdoMetDC expression
shows a major component of translational control.  In common with a
number of other genes involved in the regulation of cell growth,
including a number of those encoding oncoproteins and growth factors, the
mRNA encoding AdoMetDC contains a small open reading frame in the 5'
transcript leader.  This open reading frame plays an prominent role in
regulating translation of the AdoMetDC mRNA.  In order for the open
reading frame to exert its regulatory role, it must be translated and the
sequence of the encoded peptide is critical.  The objective of the
proposed studies is to define the mechanism by which upstream open
reading frames are involved in regulating translation of AdoMetDC mRNA in
particular and transcripts from growth-related genes generally.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177746
- **Project number:** 2R01CA039053-09
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **SAM.gov UEI:** HD1WMN6945W6
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID R MORRIS
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $165,173
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1997-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177746

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177746, GROWTH REGULATION OF POLYAMINE SYNTHESIS (2R01CA039053-09). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177746. Licensed CC0.

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