Specific effects of antitumor active norspermidine on the structure and function of DNA

We compared the effects of trivalent polyamines, spermidine (SPD) and norspermidine (NSPD), a chemical homologue of SPD, on the structure of DNA and gene expression. The chemical structures of SPD and NSPD are different only with the number of methylene groups between amine groups, [N-3-N-4-N] and [N-3-N-3-N], respectively. SPD plays vital roles in cell function and survival, including in mammals. On the other hand, NSPD has antitumor activity and is found in some species of plants, bacteria and algae, but not in humans. We found that both polyamines exhibit biphasic effect; enhancement and inhibition on in vitro gene expression, where SPD shows definitely higher potency in enhancement but NSPD causes stronger inhibition. Based on the results of AFM (atomic force microscopy) observations together with single DNA measurements with fluorescence microscopy, it becomes clear that SPD tends to align DNA orientation, whereas NSPD induces shrinkage with a greater potency. The measurement of binding equilibrium by NMR indicates that NSPD shows 4–5 times higher affinity to DNA than SPD. Our theoretical study with Monte Carlo simulation provides the insights into the underlying mechanism of the specific effect of NSPD on DNA.