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Biogenese des derives diguanidiques chez la sangsue, Hirudo medicinalis L.—I. Origine des groupements guanidiques et de la chaine carbonee

1967; Pergamon Press; Volume: 22; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0010-406x(67)90770-0

1879-3029

C Audit, B. Viala, Y Robin,

Hormonal and reproductive studies

1. The biosynthesis of arcaïne (1.4-diamidinoputrescine) and of hirudonine (1.7-diamidinospermidine) has been investigated in the leech, Hirudo medicinalis L. 2. The participation of the amidine group of arginine in the formation of the guanidine groups of these compounds has been demonstrated by injecting l-[amidino[14C-15N] arginine into the animals. The 15N/14C ratio was shown to be the same in the injected arginine and in the synthesized guanidines, which means that the C—N bonds within the amidine group are not ruptured during the transfer. 3. The injection into the leeches of putrescine and spermidine labelled on their carbon chain respectively resulted in the formation of labelled arcaïne and hirudonine. 4. From the above results and although these experiments could not be reproduced in vitro, we can conclude that the diguanidine derivatives of the leech are synthesized in vivo by amidine group transfer from arginine to the corresponding polyamines. These results prove the existence in invertebrates of transamidination reactions similar to those demonstrated in vertebrates and in microorganisms. 5. The turnover of hirudonine has been investigated in the leech. It shows the slowness of the metabolism of basic derivatives in these animals.