spermine

American

[spur-meen, -min] / ˈspɜr min, -mɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

a polyamine, H 2 N(CH2 ) 3 NH(CH2 ) 4 NH(CH2 ) 3 NH 2 , formed from spermidine and occurring in all cells, especially prevalent in semen, sputum, pancreatic tissue, and certain yeasts.

spermine British

/ ˈspɜːmiːn, -mɪn /

noun

a white or colourless basic water-soluble amine that is found in semen, sputum, and animal tissues; diaminopropyltetramethylenediamine. Formula: C 10 H 26 N 4

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spermine

First recorded in 1890–95; sperm- + -ine ²

Example Sentences

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See Examples For:

spermine

The researchers saw that spermine supports the body's immune system in removing nerve-damaging amyloid protein deposits.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

A naturally occurring molecule in the body called spermine is offering new hope.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

It was shown that spermine causes the harmful proteins to gather and, in a sense, clump together through biomolecular condensation.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

Alongside spermine, many other polyamines also perform important tasks in the body and are therefore of medical interest.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

I believe in Koch and in spermine and praise God for it.

From Letters of Anton Chekhov by Constance Garnett

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023