Putrescine
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| Putrescine | |
|---|---|
| Image:Diaminobutane.png | |
| Image:Putrescine-stickAndBall.png | |
| IUPAC name | butane-1,4-diamine |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | |
| PubChem | |
| MeSH | |
| SMILES | NCCCCN |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C4H12N2 |
| Molar mass | 88.1516 |
| Melting point |
27 °C |
| Boiling point |
158-160 °C |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references | |
Putrescine (sometimes spelled putrescin or putrescene) is an organic chemical compound NH2(CH2)4NH2 (1,4-diaminobutane or butanediamine).
It is related to cadaverine; both are produced by the breakdown of amino acids in living and dead organisms. The two compounds are largely responsible for the foul odor of putrefying flesh, but also contribute to the odor of such processes as bad breath and bacterial vaginosis. They are also found in semen and some microalgae, together with related molecules like spermine and spermidine.
Production and use
Putrescine is produced on industrial scale by hydrogenation of succinonitrile, which is produced by addition of hydrogen cyanide to acrylonitrile. Putrescine is reacted with adipic acid to yield the polyamide Nylon-4,6, which is marketed by DSM under the trade name Stanyl®.
Biochemistry
Putrescine attacks s-adenosyl methionine and converts it to spermidine. Spermidine in turn attacks another s-adenosyl methionine and converts it to spermine.
Putrescine is synthesized in small quantities by healthy living cells by the action of ornithine decarboxylase. The polyamines, of which putrescine is one of the simplest, appear to be growth factors necessary for cell division.
History
Putrescine and cadaverine were first described by the Berlin physician Ludwig Brieger in 1885.
Cultural references
Putrescine is featured as a non-lethal weapon in the science fiction novel Zodiac, by Neal Stephenson. Its use is also suggested as a practical joke in an episode of Dinosaur Comics.
References
- "Nitriles". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry (7th Ed.). Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
- DSM Engineering Plastics. Retrieved on 2007-09-10.
External links
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
