The diamine putrescine and the polyamines spermidine and spermine which are derived from it have been implicated in the regulation of growth processes.'In attempts to delineate the still controversial roles of these bioamines, several reversible inhibitors of the pyridoxal phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme L-ornithine carboxylyase (ODC, EC 4.1. 1.17) which catalyzes the conversion of L-ornithine to putrescine, have been prepared. 2 A new and ...
