Physiological polyamines: simple primordial stress molecules

Introduction Metabolism and transport of physiological polyamines Are physiological polyamines stress molecules? Roles of physiological polyamines in oxidative stress response Physiological polyamine‐mediated acid stress response Physiological polyamines in osmotic stress response Physiological polyamines in neuronal stress response Physiological polyamines in other stress responses Divergent roles of physiological polyamines in adapting to pathogen‐host interaction Conclusions Abstract Physiological polyamines are ubiquitous polycations with pleiotropic biochemical activities, including regulation of gene expression, cell proliferation and modulation of cell signalling. Reports that the polyamines with cytoprotective activities were induced by diverse stresses raised the hypothesis that physiological polyamines may play a role in inducing stress response. In a wide range of organisms, physiological polyamines were not only induced by diverse stresses, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), heat, ultraviolet (UV) and psychiatric stress but were able to confer beneficial effects for survival. Recent biochemical and genetic evidences show that polyamines can function as an ROS scavenger, acid tolerance factor and chemical chaperone, and positive regulators for expression of stress response genes which may explain their protective functions against diverse stresses. Taken together, these data suggest that physiological polyamines can function as primordial stress molecules in bacteria, plants and mammals, and may play an essential role in regulation of pathogen‐host interactions.