Adenosylmethionine decarboxylase proenzyme(AMD1) is synthesized originally as an inactive proenzyme. Putrescine stimulates both the proenzyme processing and the catalytic activity. The catalytic activity is inhibited by iodoacetic acid. The active enzyme formation entails a self-maturation process in which the active site pyruvoyl group is produced from an internal serine residue using an autocatalytic post-translational modification.