n.a shortened
form of the
word polyamine, a substance found in proteins and present in all
living cells. Proteins are the
basic building blocks of muscle, skin, organs and other parts of the
body as well as the blood and many other
body fluids. Proteins consist of substances called
amino acids which are essential to the
body's breakdown and absorption of food. Each tiny
particle, or
molecule, of an amino
acid contains a
group of
atoms called an amine. Generally each
molecule of the amino
acid contains one amine
group; however, some types contain more and are thus called polyamines (poly meaning more than one). Polyams are said to
play an important
role in regulating
cell metabolism and growth and have been used to treat certain
illnesses.