Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis
Abstract Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are aliphatic compounds ubiquitous in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Positively charged polyamines bind to negatively charged macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and acidic phospholipids, and are involved in physiological activities including...
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01193-x |
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| author | Chong Zhang Yongkang Zhen Yunan Weng Jiaqi Lin Xinru Xu Jianjun Ma Yuhong Zhong Mengzhi Wang |
| author_facet | Chong Zhang Yongkang Zhen Yunan Weng Jiaqi Lin Xinru Xu Jianjun Ma Yuhong Zhong Mengzhi Wang |
| author_sort | Chong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are aliphatic compounds ubiquitous in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Positively charged polyamines bind to negatively charged macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and acidic phospholipids, and are involved in physiological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and gene regulation. Intracellular polyamine levels are regulated by biosynthesis, catabolism and transport. Polyamines in the body originate from two primary sources: dietary intake and intestinal microbial metabolism. These polyamines are then transported into the bloodstream, through which they are distributed to various tissues and organs to exert their biological functions. Polyamines synthesized by intestinal microorganisms serve dual critical roles. First, they are essential for maintaining polyamine concentrations within the digestive tract. Second, through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, these microbial-derived polyamines modulate the expression of genes governing key processes in intestinal epithelial cells—including proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell–cell interactions. Collectively, these regulatory effects help maintain intestinal epithelial homeostasis and ensure the integrity of the gut barrier. In addition, polyamines interact with the gut microbiota to maintain intestinal homeostasis by promoting microbial growth, biofilm formation, swarming, and endocytosis vesicle production, etc. Supplementation with polyamines has been demonstrated to be important in regulating host intestinal microbial composition, enhancing nutrient absorption, and improving metabolism and immunity. In this review, we will focus on recent advances in the study of polyamine metabolism and transport in intestinal microbes and intestinal epithelial cells. We then summarize the scientific understanding of their roles in intestinal homeostasis, exploring the advances in cellular and molecular mechanisms of polyamines and their potential clinical applications, and providing a rationale for polyamine metabolism as an important target for the treatment of intestinal-based diseases. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ebba759b929f463e9310ac0afe901b9c |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2049-1891 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ebba759b929f463e9310ac0afe901b9c2025-08-20T02:17:56ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912025-04-0116112010.1186/s40104-025-01193-xResearch progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasisChong Zhang0Yongkang Zhen1Yunan Weng2Jiaqi Lin3Xinru Xu4Jianjun Ma5Yuhong Zhong6Mengzhi Wang7Laboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityLaboratory of Metabolic Manipulation of Herbivorous Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityAbstract Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are aliphatic compounds ubiquitous in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Positively charged polyamines bind to negatively charged macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and acidic phospholipids, and are involved in physiological activities including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and gene regulation. Intracellular polyamine levels are regulated by biosynthesis, catabolism and transport. Polyamines in the body originate from two primary sources: dietary intake and intestinal microbial metabolism. These polyamines are then transported into the bloodstream, through which they are distributed to various tissues and organs to exert their biological functions. Polyamines synthesized by intestinal microorganisms serve dual critical roles. First, they are essential for maintaining polyamine concentrations within the digestive tract. Second, through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, these microbial-derived polyamines modulate the expression of genes governing key processes in intestinal epithelial cells—including proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and cell–cell interactions. Collectively, these regulatory effects help maintain intestinal epithelial homeostasis and ensure the integrity of the gut barrier. In addition, polyamines interact with the gut microbiota to maintain intestinal homeostasis by promoting microbial growth, biofilm formation, swarming, and endocytosis vesicle production, etc. Supplementation with polyamines has been demonstrated to be important in regulating host intestinal microbial composition, enhancing nutrient absorption, and improving metabolism and immunity. In this review, we will focus on recent advances in the study of polyamine metabolism and transport in intestinal microbes and intestinal epithelial cells. We then summarize the scientific understanding of their roles in intestinal homeostasis, exploring the advances in cellular and molecular mechanisms of polyamines and their potential clinical applications, and providing a rationale for polyamine metabolism as an important target for the treatment of intestinal-based diseases. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01193-xGut homeostasisGut microbiotaPolyaminesSpermidine |
| spellingShingle | Chong Zhang Yongkang Zhen Yunan Weng Jiaqi Lin Xinru Xu Jianjun Ma Yuhong Zhong Mengzhi Wang Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology Gut homeostasis Gut microbiota Polyamines Spermidine |
| title | Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| title_full | Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| title_fullStr | Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| title_short | Research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| title_sort | research progress on the microbial metabolism and transport of polyamines and their roles in animal gut homeostasis |
| topic | Gut homeostasis Gut microbiota Polyamines Spermidine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01193-x |
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