PART I BIOSYNTHESIS OF POLYAMINES,- 1 Biosynthesis of Polyamines in Eukaryotes, Archaea, and Bacteria -- 2 Long-Chain and Branched Polyamines in Thermophilic Microbes -- 3 Regulation and Diversity of Polyamine Biosynthesis in Plants -- PART II CATABOLISM OF POLYAMINES -- 4 Polyamine Catabolism in Prokaryotes -- 5 Mammalian Polyamine Catabolism -- 6 Polyamine Catabolism in Plants -- PART III POLYAMINE HOMEOSTASIS -- 7 Antizyme -- 8 Bacterial Antizyme -- 9 Polyamine Homeostasis in Plants: The Role(s) of Evolutionarily Conserved Upstream ORFs -- PART IV ROLES OF POLYAMINES IN GROWTH -- 10 Role of the Polyamine Spermidine as a Precursor for Hypusine Modification in eIF5A -- 11 The Polyamine Modulon: Genes Encoding Proteins Whose Synthesis Is Enhanced by Polyamines at the Level of Translation -- 12 Protein Synthesis and Polyamines in Thermophiles: Effect of Polyamines on Nucleic Acid Maintenance and Gene Expression -- PART V ROLES OF POLYAMINES IN SURVIVAL -- 13 Polyamines in Plant Stress Response -- PART VI POLYAMINE TRANSPORTERS -- 14 Recent Advances in Bacterial Polyamine Transport Systems -- 15 Polyamine Transport Systems in Plants -- PART VII POLYAMINE-DERIVED SECONDARY METABOLITES -- 16 Polyamine-Derived Alkaloids in Plants: Molecular Elucidation of Biosynthesis -- 17 Polyamine Toxins from Spiders and Wasps -- PART VIII ACTION OF POLYAMINES ON ION CHANNELS -- 18 Polyamine Block of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (Kir) Channels -- 19 Polyamine Action on Plant Ion Channels and Pumps -- 20 Regulation of N-Methyl-d-Aspartate Receptors by Spermine and Ifenprodil -- PART IX POLYAMINES AND LONGEVITY -- 21 Polyamines and Longevity in Mammals -- 22 Polyamine Interactions with Plant Hormones: Crosstalk at Several Levels -- PART X DIAGNOSIS AND DRUG TARGETS -- 23 N1, N12-Diacetylspermine in Human Urine: Performance as a Tumor Marker, Quantification, Production, and Excretion -- 24 Targeting the Polyamine Biosynthetic Pathway in Parasitic Protozoa. This book covers key topics in polyamine research from a range of organisms, including plants, mammals, and prokaryotes such as bacteria and archaea. The book provides an introduction to general concepts in the field of polyamine research, as well as more detailed information. With the availability of genome sequence data from a broad range of organisms, the evolution of the genes involved in polyamine metabolism is discussed. The mode of action of polyamines has been shown to be dependent on cation channels, and this mechanism is described in the book. The origin of polyamine transporters (from bacteria, yeasts, and plants) is described. The various effects of polyamines on growth and survival are also documented. The book details the mechanisms of polyamine homeostasis and the role of polyamine molecules as precursors of secondary metabolites such as plant alkaloids and toxins derived from spiders and wasps. The role of polyamines in longevity and disease is discussed. A link between polyamine contents and cancer progression is reported, as is the use of polyamine metabolites as diagnostic markers in the initial stages of cancer. Moreover, a novel approach that utilizes the polyamine pathway of a parasite as a drug target in African sleeping sickness is described. Therefore, this book is a valuable resource, both as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate students and also as a reference book for front-line polyamine researchers.