Ornithine decarboxylase antizyme explained

Symbol:	ODC_AZ
Ornithine decarboxylase antizyme
Pfam:	PF02100
Interpro:	IPR002993
Prosite:	PDOC01039

In molecular biology, Ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (ODC-AZ) is an ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor. It binds to, and destabilises, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a key enzyme in polyamine synthesis. ODC is then rapidly degraded.^[1] It was first characterized in 1981.^[2] The expression of ODC-AZ requires programmed, ribosomal frameshifting which is modulated according to the cellular concentration of polyamines. High levels of polyamines induce a +1 ribosomal frameshift in the translation of mRNA for the antizyme leading to the expression of a full-length protein. At least two forms of ODC-AZ exist in mammals ^[3] and the protein has been found in Drosophila (protein Gutfeeling^[4]) as well as in Saccharomyces yeast (encoded by the OAZ1 gene).^[5]

Human genes encoding Ornithine decarboxylase antizymes are OAZ1, OAZ2, and OAZ3.

References

1. Matsufuji S, Matsufuji T, Miyazaki Y, Murakami Y, Atkins JF, Gesteland RF, Hayashi S . Autoregulatory frameshifting in decoding mammalian ornithine decarboxylase antizyme . Cell . 80 . 1 . 51–60 . January 1995 . 7813017 . 10.1016/0092-8674(95)90450-6. 7133313 .
2. Heller JS, Canellakis ES . Cellular control of ornithine decarboxylase activity by its antizyme . J. Cell. Physiol. . 107 . 2 . 209–17 . 1981 . 7251680 . 10.1002/jcp.1041070206. 31895913 .
3. Ivanov IP, Gesteland RF, Atkins JF . A second mammalian antizyme: conservation of programmed ribosomal frameshifting . Genomics . 52 . 2 . 119–29 . September 1998 . 9782076 . 10.1006/geno.1998.5434 .
4. Salzberg. A.. Golden. K.. Bodmer. R.. Bellen. H. J.. 1996-09-01. Gutfeeling, a Drosophila Gene Encoding an Antizyme-like Protein, Is Required for Late Differentiation of Neurons and Muscles. 1207492. Genetics. 144. 1. 183–196. 10.1093/genetics/144.1.183 . 0016-6731. 8878684.
5. https://www.yeastgenome.org/locus/oaz1 SGD entry for OAZ1 gene