Protocols for studying antizyme expression and function

Methods Mol Biol. 2011:720:237-67. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-034-8_15.

Abstract

Antizyme (AZ) is a key molecule in feedback regulation of cellular polyamines. It is induced by polyamines through stimulation of ribosomal frameshifting during its translation. In mammals, AZ is diverged into three paralogs, AZ1-3. Tissue and subcellular distribution are different among the paralogs, as determined by immunochemical methods or expression of fluorescent-tagged proteins. Only AZ2 is known to be phosphorylated. AZ regulates cellular polyamine levels through multiple mechanisms. It binds to ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) to form an inactive complex and to trigger degradation of ODC by 26S proteasomes. The AZ activity to promote ODC degradation can be measured both in vitro and in cells. AZ also inhibits cellular uptake of polyamines. This chapter comprises seven subchapters describing methods for studying expression and function of AZ.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Transport / drug effects
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Extracts
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Enzyme Assays / methods*
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Frameshifting, Ribosomal / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Intracellular Space / drug effects
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Kidney / enzymology
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Polyamines / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Proteins / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Cell Extracts
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Polyamines
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • ornithine decarboxylase antizyme