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

/ -mɪn, ˈspɜːmiːn /

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

What was missing until now was a clear picture of how spermine influences the harmful processes in nerve cells in a way that could be used for medical benefit.

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

Yet a naturally occurring molecule in the body called spermine offers hope.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

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

From Science Daily ● Nov. 27, 2025

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

From Letters of Anton Chekhov by Garnett, Constance

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