Polyamines putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm) are ubiquitous, small aliphatic polycations found in eukaryotic organisms, which regulate vital developmental and physiological events. They play an important role in diverse plant growth and developmental processes and adaptation to environmental stresses. Among other functions, spermidine stimulates the process of autophagy across species including yeast, animals, and even humans.
Our study aimed to follow changes in polyamine metabolism in Nicotiana tabaccum suspension cell culture after autophagy induction. We induced autophagy by sucrose starvation since a central role of autophagy in plant response to various environmental cues has been proved (e.g. Masclaux-Daubresse et al. 2017).