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LC–MS assay for quantifying ornithine decarboxylase activity in the biological matrix and cultured cells using stable isotope‑labeled ornithine
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DOI：10.1007/s00726-026-03539-9.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are essential for animal health and development, and their intracellular levels must be tightly regulated to maintain normal cellular functions. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) catalyzes the rate-limiting decarboxylation step in polyamine biosynthesis, and thus accurate assessment of its activity is vital for studies of polyamine metabolism. However, conventional ODC assays rely on radiolabeled substrates and require specialized facilities for radioactive handling. To overcome these limitations, we developed a sensitive and non-radioactive ODC assay using stable isotope-labeled ornithine in combination with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). In this protocol, animal tissues (e.g., 0.5 g) or cultured cells (e.g., 2.0 × 106 cells) are homogenized, and cytosolic fractions are prepared by centrifugation. These fractions are incubated with d7-ornithine under 37 °C conditions, and the produced d7-putrescine is derivatized with dansyl chloride and quantified by LC–MS analysis. Reaction samples showed a distinct peak corresponding to d7-putrescine, whereas negative control displayed negligible signals. Moreover, d7-spermidine and d7-spermine were not detectable under these conditions, indicating d7-putrescine production directly reflects ODC activity. We optimized reaction time and substrate concentrations to ensure linearity and precision, and confirmed that the assay responds appropriately to pharmacological inhibition of ODC. Collectively, this protocol provides a practical, sensitive, and non-radioactive method for quantifying ODC activity in both animal tissues and cultured cells, and it offers an accessible tool for polyamine metabolism research.
Keywords:
Ornithine decarboxylase
Polyamines
Dansyl chloride
Stable isotope
LC–MS
DFMO
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