Binding specificities of adenosine aminohydrolase from calf intestinal mucosa with dialdehydes derived from hexofuranosyladenine nucleosides

A series of nucleoside dialdehydes has been prepared as powders after treatment of hexofuranosyladenine nucleosides with paraperiodic acid; thus, periodate oxidation and purification of the products yielded dialdehydes derived from 9-(6-deoxy-beta-D-gulofuranosyl)adenine (1), 9-(6-deoxy-beta-L-gulofuranosyl)adenine (2), 9-(alpha-D-rhamnofuranosyl)adenine (3), 9-(alpha-L-rhamnofuranosyl)adenine (4), 9-(6-deoxy-alpha-L-talofuranosyl)adenine (5), 9-(5,6-dideoxy-beta-L-ribo-hex-5-enofuranosyl)adenine (6), and 9-(5,6-dideoxy-beta-D-ribo-hex-5-enofuranosyl)adenine (7). Nucleoside dialdehydes 1, 4, and 5 were weak substrates for adenosine aminohydrolase from calf intestinal mucosa. Dialdehydes 6 and 7 were not substrates for the enzyme but were rather strong competitive inhibitors, with Ki values of 50 and 7 microM, respectively. Dialdehydes 2 and 3 did not bind to the enzyme at all. The dialdehydes did not exhibit time-dependent inhibition, suggesting that they did not form covalent bonds with the protein.

The effect of nucleosides and deoxycoformycin on adenosine and deoxyadenosine inhibition of human lymphocyte activation

Micromolar deoxyadenosine inhibits leucine uptake during the 1st day of proliferation in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes if adenosine deaminase is inhibited. This inhibition occurs before DNA synthesis begins, suggesting that deoxyadenosine can affect mitogenesis by mechanisms that do not involve ribonucleotide reductase inhibition. If deoxyadenosine addition to mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes is delayed to the 2nd or 3rd day post-stimulation, inhibition of proliferation is markedly reduced. Although the time dependence of deoxyadenosine toxicity resembles that of adenosine, these compounds appear to inhibit early protein synthesis by different mechanisms: 1) deoxycoformycin markedly potentiates deoxyadenosine but not adenosine; 2) deoxycytidine and thymidine reverse deoxyadenosine toxicity but do not alter adenosine toxicity.

Biochemical basis for differential deoxyadenosine toxicity to T and B lymphoblasts: role for 5'-nucleotidase

Deoxyadenosine metabolism was investigated in cultured human cells to elucidate the biochemical basis for the sensitivity of T lymphoblasts and the resistance of B lymphoblasts to deoxyadenosine toxicity. T lymphoblasts have a 20-to 45-fold greater capacity to synthesize deoxyadenosine nucleotides than B lymphoblasts at deoxyadenosine concentrations of 50--300 micron. During the synthesis of dATP, T lymphoblasts accumulate large quantities of dADP, whereas B lymphoblasts do not accumulate dADP. Enzymes affecting deoxyadenosine nucleotide synthesis were assayed in these cells. No substantial differences were evident in activities of deoxyadenosine kinase (ATP: deoxyadenosine 5'-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.76) or deoxyadenylate kinase [ATP:(d)AMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.11]. The activity of 5'-nucleotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.5) was increased 44-fold for AMP and 7-fold for dAMP in B lymphoblasts. A model for the regulation of deoxyadenosine nucleotide synthesis by 5'-nucleotidase activity is proposed on the basis of the observations.

Biochemical basis for the enhanced toxicity of deoxyribonucleosides toward malignant human T cell lines

Human malignant T cell lines have high levels of deoxyribonucleoside phosphorylating activity and low levels of deoxyribonucleotide dephosphorylating activity. When incubated with deoxyadenosine or thymidine, the malignant T cell lines rapidly accumulate toxic concentrations of dATP and dTTP, respectively. This unusual pattern of deoxyribonucleotide metabolism renders the malignant T cells especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of deoxyribonucleosides and related analogues.

Purine excretion by mouse peritoneal macrophages lacking adenosine deaminase activity

Deoxyadenosine, a cytotoxic purine nucleoside, is excreted in large amounts by patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disease associated with deficiency of adenosine deaminase (adenosine aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.4.4). To identify the source of the purine nucleoside, purine excretion by macrophages was studied by using mouse peritoneal macrophages as an experimental model system. Normally, macrophages excrete a large quantity of uric acid into the culture medium. However, in the presence of deoxycoformycin, a potent inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, these macrophages also excreted deoxyadenosine. Furthermore, phagocytosis of nucleated erythrocytes augmented the excretion of deoxyadenosine. Macrophages are involved in the phagocytosis of nuclei that are extruded from normoblasts during erythropoiesis and also of senescent cells in lymphoid organs. A hypothesis is proposed that macrophages of the reticuloendothelial system are a source of deoxyadenosine, which is one of the two cytotoxic purine nucleosides (the other is adenosine) apparently responsible for the suppression of immune functions in patients with adenosine deaminase deficiency.

Overproduction of adenine deoxynucleosides and deoxynucletides in adenosine deaminase deficiency with severe combined immunodeficiency disease

The deoxynucleotide, dATP, is elevated 50- to 1,000-fold above normal in erythrocytes, lymphocytes, and bone marrow from a child with adenosine deaminase deficiency and severe combined immunodeficiency disease. The child, when 17 mo of age, was also excreting approximately 30 mg of deoxyadenosine per day in urine (normal is less than 0.1 mg/day). Urinary excretion of uric acid was decreased. Elevated dATP levels in lymphocytes and bone marrow, and increased urinary excretion of deoxyadenosine, persisted despite hypertransfusion of the child with irradiated erythrocytes from a donor with normal adenosine deaminase. Overproduction of deoxynucleotides by increased salvage of adenosine appears to be the primary metabolic abnormality in patients with adenosine de aminase deficiency.

DNA replication in Physarum polycephalum: UV photolysis of maturing 5-bromo-deoxyuridine substituted DNA

Combinations of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and 3H-deoxyadenosine (3H-DAdo) short pulses were given in the synchronous DNA-replication period of Physarum polycephalum. After a chase period, UV-photolysis products were analyzed on alkaline sucrose gradients. This strategy has allowed the following conclusions. a) at the time of master-initiation of DNA replication, points separated by 1.1-2.2x10(7) daltons of single strand DNA may initiate DNA synthesis. b) among these, only selected groups of replicons actually proceed in DNA replication at this time, while others appear to hold (later temporal sets of replicons). The origins of the ones that proceed in replication are separated from each other by a distance corresponding to 1.1-2.x10(7) daltons. c) regions in actual replication are separated from each other by increasing distances (up to 1.5x10(8) daltons single strand DNA) at later times in S.

Identification of some metabolic products of 5' -deoxy-5' -S-isobutylthioadenosine, an inhibitor of virus-induced cell transformation

5' -Deoxy-5' -S-isobutylthioadenosine (iBuS)5' Ado has been shown to be rapidly degraded to 5-deoxy-5-S-isobutylthioribose and adenine in procaryotes. In chick embryo fibroblasts there are two metabolic pathways for (iBuS)5' Ado degradation: (a) oxidative deamination into 5' -deoxy-5'-S-isobutylthioinosine (the main product) and (b) hydrolysis into 5-deoxy-5-S-isobutylthioribose plus adenine. The latter reaction is not due to bacterial contamination, since the same results were obtained under sterile conditions and in chick embryo fibroblasts in culture. The inhibition of the virus-induced cell transformation reported by us previously was due to (iBuS)5' Ado rather than to the main metabolic product of this molecule in chick embryo fibroblasts.

Genome organization of RNA tumor viruses. I. In vitro synthesis of full-genome-length single-stranded and double-stranded viral DNA transcripts

Genome-length complementary DNA (cDNA) transcripts were synthesized in vitro by using purified virions of avian myeloblastosis virus. Moloney murine leukemia virus, and clone 124 mouse sarcoma virus. The size of the genomelenth cDNA transcripts was measured on either alkaline sucrose gradients or alkaline agarose gels. The longest cDNA transcripts synthesized by using avian myeloblastosis virus, Moloney murine leukemia virus, and clone 124 mouse sarcoma virus were 7, 9 and 6 kilobases (kb), respectively. The in vitro system used was capable of synthesizing double-stranded DNA, but the plus strands (same polarity as the viral RNA) were only 0.5 to 1.5 kb long. Lone Moloney murine leukemia virus cDNA transcripts were used as templates to synthesize the second plus strand. Essentially two strategies were employed as follows. (i) The 3' ends of the cDNA transcripts were extended by addition of 50 to 100 dAMP residues by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. The (dA)n-tailed cDNA transcripts were used as templates along with an oligomer of dT as primer and Escherichia coli DNA polymerase to synthesize the plus strands. (ii) DNase-digested calf thymus DNA was used to prime the synthesis of plus strands on long cDNA with E. coli DNA polymerase I. In both cases, the synthesis of the plus strands was monitored by increased resistance of the cDNA templates to single-strand-specific S1 nuclease. The double-stranded DNA was fractionated on neutral sucrose gradients. Analysis of the double-stranded DNA synthesized by using oligo(dT) primer showed the plus strands to be about 5 to 6 kb long, whereas the plus strands synthesized by using DNase-digested calf thymus DNA primers were only 0.3 to 0.5 kb long. Double-stranded DNA synthesized by either method has an average size of 6 x 10(6) daltons. Double-stranded DNA was also synthesized by using cDNA transcripts as templates without the addition of any primers. In this case, the plus strands were covalently linked to the template strand and were not representative of the whole parent strand.

The biochemical basis for resistance to adenine arabinoside in a mutant of Toxoplasma gondii

We have previously reported the isolation and preliminary characterization of a mutant of Toxoplasma gondii that was resistant to adenine arabinoside. Fiftyfold higher concentrations of adenine arabinoside were required to inhibit the growth of the resistant parasite in human fibroblast cultures. To determine the enzymic basis for resistance, we measured the kinases and deaminases that act on adenosine or deoxyadenosine. All of these enzymic activities were found in uninfected human fibroblast cells. The mutant and wild type parasite proved to have similar activities of adenosine deaminase, deoxyadenosine deaminase, and deoxyadenosine kinase. However, the adenine arabinoside resistant mutant had less than 0.1% of the adenosine kinase activity observed in the wild type T. gondii. The mutant parasite is presumably resistant because without adenosine kinase to phosphorylate adenine arabinoside it cannot carry out the first step in the conversion of the analogue to adenine arabinoside triphosphate, the active form. A mutant of 3T6 (mouse) cells previously selected for a loss of adenosine kinase also proved to be resistant to adenine arabinoside.

Lack of DNA synthesis inhibitory activity in an immunosuppressor obtained from spleen

A tissue extract derived from bovine spleen which is an immunosuppressor in vivo inhibits the incorporation of the two DNA pyrimidine nucleosides but does not inhibit the incorporation of purine nucleosides. The results indicate that the immunosuppressive action of the spleen extract is not mediated via inhibition of cell division.

Transport of a nonphosphorylated nucleoside, 5'-deoxyadenosine, by murine leukemia L1210 cells

The mode of transport of a nonphosphorylated adenosine analog, 5'-deoxyadenosine, was studied in murine leukemia L1210 cells. This compound is not subject to the action of intracellular nucleoside-trapping kinases, and its transport can be examined without regard for effects of experimental conditions on kinase activity. Accumulation of 5'-deoxyadenosine was rapid, and nonconcentrative, with equilibrium attained within 12 s at 37 degrees. Kinetic studies were carried out at 20 degrees. We found both a nonmediated (diffusion) and a mediated transport process. The latter had an apparent Km fo 115 micrometer, Vmax = 105 pmol/10(6) cells/min. Uptake of 5'-deoxyadenosine was inhibited by several heterologous nucleosides including adenosine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, thymine riboside, and inosine. Like 2'-deoxyadenosine, 5'-deoxyadenosine was more lipid-soluble than adenosine (from octanol/water partition studies). Compared with 5'-deoxyadenosine, adenosine had a much lower apparent Km (5 micrometer) and a higher Q10 over the 27-37 degrees range (3.0 versus 1.3). Data obtained with adenosine might, however, reflect properties of intracellular adenosine kinase interacting with a transport process.

A role for purine metabolism in the immune response: Adenosine-deaminase activity and deoxyadenosine catabolism

We have investigated a new hypothesis for the association between adenosine deaminase (A.D.A.) deficiency and immunodeficiency--namely, that deoxyadenosine rather than adenosine (an equally effective A.D.A. substrate) is toxic to proliferating cells of lymphoid origin. This possibility was explored in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes cultured with a potent A.D.A. inhibitor, E.H.N.A. (erythro-9[2-hydroxy-3-nonyl] adenine) to simulate A.D.A. deficiency. In this in-vitro system deoxyadenosine was inhibitory at much lower and more physiological concentrations (1 mumol/1), compared with adenosine (100 mumol/1).

Inhibition by interferon of thymidine uptake in chemostat cultures of L1210 cells

Mouse interferon preparations inhibited the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into acid-insoluble material of mouse leukemia L1210 cells cultivated under steady-state conditions in a chemostat. Interferon exerted only a transitory and less pronounced effect on [3H]-deoxyadenosine incorporation and had no effect on the content of total DNA per cell. Study of [3H]-thymidine uptake at 1 degree into acid-soluble cellular material showed that interferon reduced the uptake of this labeled nucleoside whereas the uptake of [3H]-deoxyadenosine and [3H]-deoxy-D-glucose was not inhibited. The effect of interferon on [3H]-thymidine uptake occurred prior to the inhibitory action on cell multiplication. It is suggested that the inhibitory of [3H]-thymdine uptake reflected specific changes in the cell membrane of interferon-treated cells which may be relevant to the understanding of the antiviral and other biological effects of interferon.

Deoxyadenosine metabolism and toxicity in cultured L5178Y cells

The growth of cultured L5178Y cells is inhibited by relatively low concentrations fo deoxyadenosine in the presence of deoxycoformycin, an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase. Cell viability is reduced, presumably as a consequence of the induced state of unbalanced growth which is characterized by inhibition in DNA synthesis, accumulation of cells in G1 or early S phase, a continuation in RNA synthesis, and increasing cell volume. The intracellular concentrations of purine and pyrimidine ribonucleoside phosphates remain essentially unchanged. The significant changes in the intracellular deoxynucleoside triphosphate pools are an increase in deoxyadenosine triphosphate and a decrease in deoxycytidine triphosphate.

DNA modification of bacteriophage Mu-1 requires both host and bacteriophage functions

It was previously shown that resistance of phage Mu-1 to several restriction enzymes is due to a modification function (called mom) encoded by the phage. More recent studies emphasized that modification of Mu requires not only an active mom function, but also an active dam function supplied by the Escherichia coli host.

Action of single-strand specific nucleases on model DNA heteroduplexes of defined size and sequence

The sensitivity of the model DNAs containing dA-dG and dtg-dG heteroduplex regions of defined length to S1 and mung bean single-strand specific nucleases was tested by polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the distribution of product oligonucleotides. Single-base mismatch heteroduplexes were extremely resistant to these nucleases, although low levels of cleavage at the heteroduplex nucleotide were observed at high nuclease concentrations. The nuclease sensitivity of dA-dtg heteroduplex regions increased gradually as the length of the heteroduplex region increased frome one to six nucleotides. The sensitivity of dG-dG heteroduplexes three to five nucleotides long was considerably greater than that of the single dtg-dG mismatch.

The mechanism of cobalamin-dependent rearrangements

Adenosylcobalamin-dependent rearrangements are enzyme catalyzed reactions in which a hydrogen atom is transfered from one carbon atom to an adjacent one in exchange for a group X which migrates in the opposite direction. In the hydrogen transfer step, the mechanism of which is reasonably well understood, the cofactor serves as an intermediate hydrogen carrier. The transfer of hydrogen to the cofactor involves homolysis of the carbon-cobalt bond to generate cob(II) alamin and the 5'-deoxyadenos-5'-yl radical, followed by abstraction of a hydrogen atom from the substrate to form 5'-deoxyadenosine and the substrate radical. After migration of group X, the hydrogen atom is returned to the product radical by the reverse of the above reactions to generate the final product and reconstitute the cofactor. In contrast to the transfer of hydrogen, the mechanism of group X migration is poorly understood. Many reactions mechanisms have been proposed on chemical grounds, but there is insufficient biochemical evidence to permit a choice among these propsals. A quantity of negative evidence has accumulated suggesting that group X migration does not involve alkylation of the cobalt of cobalamin by the substrate, but in the absence of firm data supporting an alternative mechanism, even this weak conclusion must be regarded as provisional.

Thymidine uptake and utilization in Escherichia coli: a new gene controlling nucleoside transport

A commonly used strain of Escherichia coli K-12 was shown to be deficient in the transport of a number of nucleosides, including thymidine. Thymidine incorporation was unaffected. Strain AB2497 exhibited a strikingly lower thymidine pulse-label incorporation at low (less than 1 mug/ml) thymidine concentrations than do many other strains. The deficiency appeared to be due to mutation in a single gene. This gene, which we designated nup (for nucleoside uptake), is located at 10 to 13 min on the E. coli linkage map. In nup+ strains, the transport of a given nucleoside was relatively insensitive to large excesses of other nucleosides but was competitively inhibited by the same nucleoside. Mutants deficient inthymidine kinase are deficient in thymidine uptake but normal in deoxyadenosine uptake. A two-step model for nucleoside transport is presented in which the first step, utilizing the nup gene product, is a nonspecific translocation of nucleoside to the interior of the cell. In the second step, the individual nucleosides are modified by cellular enzymes (e.g., nucleosides kinases) facilitate accumulation.

Herpesvirus proteins: induction of nucleoside phosphotransferase activity after herpes simplex virus infection

After herpes simplex virus infection of hamster kidney cells there is an induction of nucleoside phosphotransferase activity which can utilize AMP as phosphate donor. The activity is immunologically specific for the infected cell and is induced concomitantly with the virus-coded pyrimidine deoxynucleoside kinase activity. Phosphotransferase activity is not induced in cells lacking both thymidine and deoxycytidine kinase activity.

Transport of purines and deoxyadenosine in Escherichia coli

The characteristics of adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uracil uptake in Escherichia coli B show that each base is transported by a specific system. The data support the concept that the transport of guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and uracil function without direct involvement of the respective purine or pyrimidine phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes. Uracil phosphoribosyltransferase is not demonstrable in E. coli B, and large differences are observed in the inhibitory effects of heterologous purines on the uptake of guanine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine as compared to the corresponding inhibitory effects reported for the soluble purine phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes of E. coli B. Additional evidence is provided by the low Km values determined for the transport of adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine relative to the corresponding Km values for the phosphoribosyltransferase enzymes. Data are presented indicating that adenine may be transported without participation of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase. The stimulatory effect of glucose, the inhibitory effect of KCN, and the high intracellular to extracellular concentration gradients of the bases produced in the presence of glucose provide evidence that the transport processes are energy-dependent. The Km values for transport of the purines and uracil range from 10(-7) M to 5 X 10(-7) M. Characteristics of adenine and uracil uptake are similar in E. coli B, E. coli K-12, and a showdomycin-resistant mutant of E. coli B. Adenosine and deoxyadenosine are transported in E. coli B by independent transport systems. Adenine or hypoxanthine does not share the adenosine or deoxyadenosine transport systems as evidence by the mutual lack of competition of free bases and nucleosides on transport. The transport systems for deoxyadenosine and adenosine are defective in the mutant.

The effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine on chick embryo limb bud mesenchyme in organ culture

The thymidine analogue 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) prevents chondrogenesis in organ cultures of limb bud mesenchyme of 3 1/2 day chick embryos. The biologically active levels of BrdU inhibit both DNA and RNA synthesis, but the synthesis of methylated RNA is inhibited less than that of unmethylated RNA. If cell division is partially synchronized the ratio of incorporation of BrdU to thymidine is greater during the first few minutes of the S period than for unsynchronized cells. The results suggest that BrdU may be preferntially incorporated into the starting points of replicons and that this may affect subsequent transcription necessary for chondrogenesis.

Mechanism of action of ethanolamine ammonia-lyase, an adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the binding of adenine nucleosides and substrate to ethanolamine ammonia-lyase

Proton NMR spectroscopy was used to study the binding of adenosine, 5'-deoxyadenosine, adenine, and ethanolamine to the adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme ethanolamine ammonia-lyase. Broadening of ligand resonances in the presence of ethanolamine ammonia-lyase indicated that adenosine, 5'-deoxyadenosine, and ethanolamine all formed complexes with the enzyme (KD(mM) = 3.5, 3.0, and 2.5 respectively). The methyl group of enzyme-bound 5'-deoxyadenosine rotated at a rate exceeding 10(7) revolutions/s. Adenine did not appear to bind to the enzyme. Rates of dissociation of nucleosides from the enzyme were fast on the NMR time scale, precluding measurements of rate constants for the binding reaction. The departure of ethanolamine was slow, however, permitting their determination. The values for these rate constants were: k1 = 4.4 times 10(5) M-1 S-1; k-1 = 1.1 times 10(3) S-1. Addition of 1 mol of cyanocobalamin/mol of active sites led to narrowing of the enzyme-broadened ligand resonances. With 5'-deoxyadenosine, linewidths still exceeded those of the free ligand, indicating that binding to enzyme was weakened but not abolished. The KD for this nucleoside in the presence of CNCbl was 8.0 mM. With ethanolamine and adenosine, however, linewidths reverted to values characteristic of the unbound ligand, indicating either that CNCbl greatly lowered the rate of dissociation of the ligand or displaced the ligand from the enzyme. A decision between these two possibilities could not be made from the data at hand, although analogy with the situation obtaining with 5'-deoxyadenosine suggests that adenosine is displaced from the enzyme by CNCbl. 5'-Deoxyadenosine inhibited catalytic activity of the enzyme, competing with adenosylcobalamin (Ki = 2.7 mM). Adenosine had no effect, despite NMR evidence indicating that it formed a complex with free enzyme. These experiments showed that ethanolamine ammonia-lyase possesses binding sites for adenine nucleosides, a class of compounds chemically related to the Cobeta-ligand of the cofactor, as well as for ethanolamine. Binding to the enzyme has now been demonstrated for all three categories of low molecular weight compounds thought to be involved in the reaction; namely, substrate (ethanolamine), corrin, and adenine nucleoside.

Labeling the deoxyribonucleic acid of Anacystis nidulans

Analysis of cell-free extracts of Anacystis nidulans disclosed the absence of both thymidine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.4) and thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) activities. Thymine and thymidine were incorporated inefficiently by intact cells of A. nidulans either in the presence or absence of deoxyguanosine (250 mug/ml). Deoxythymidine monophosphate incorporation was also inefficient. Radioactive deoxyadenosine, at a minimally toxic level (3 mug/ml), was incorporated effectively into the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). A cesium chloride-ethidium bromide gradient analysis of the DNA revealed that both the plasmid DNA and the principal DNA of the A. nidulans genome were labeled effectively in cells exposed to [8-14C]deoxyadenosine.

Intracellular formation of analogs of cyclic AMP. Studies with brain slices labeled with radioactive derivatives of adenine and adenosine

A variety of radioactive analogs of adenine and adenosine were incubated with guinea pig cerebral cortical slices. Neither 1,N6-etheno[14C] adenosine nor 1,N6-etheno[14C] adenine were significantly incorporated into intracellular nucleotides. 2-chloro[8-3H] adenine was incorporated, but at a very low rate and conclusive evidence for the formation of intracellular radioactive 2-chloro-cyclic AMP was not obtained. N6-Benzyl[14C] adenosine was converted only to intracellular monophosphates and significant formation of radioactive N6-benzylcyclic AMP was not detected during a subsequent incubation. 2'-Deoxy-[8-14C] adenosine was converted to both intracellular radioactive 2'-deoxy-adenine nucleotides and radioactive adenine nucleotides. Stimulation of these labeled slices with a variety of agents resulted in formation of both radioactive 2'-deoxycyclic AMP and cyclic AMP. Investigation of the effect of various other compounds on uptake of adenine or adenosine suggested that certain other adenosine analogs might serve as precursors of abnormal cyclic nucleotides in intact cells.

Comparison of the cytidine 5'-diphosphate and adenosine 5'-diphosphate reductase activities of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

A comparison of the cytidine 5'-diphosphate (CDP) and adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) reductase activities from Ehrlich tumor cells was made to determine if the properties of the enzyme for these substrates were the same, except for the allosteric effector. It was observed that various purification steps did not result in an enzyme fraction that had a constant ratio of CDP:ADP reductase activities. The optimal Mg2+ ion concentration for CDP reduction was 3 to 4 mM, while the optimal Mg2+ ion concentration for ADP reduction was 0.1 mM inhibited ADP reduction. CDP reduction was relatively insensitive to the presence of dimethylformamide or dimethyl sulfoxide in the reaction mixture, but ADP reduction was decreased in the presence of these two compounds. Periodate-oxidized adenosine 5'-monophosphate, on incubation with the enzyme, had a greater effect on CDP reduction but little or no effect on ADP reduction. The response of the CDP and ADP reductase activities to the same negative effector was essentially the same. Both CDP and ADP reductions showed similar decreases in the presence of various concentrations of deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate. These data suggest that the Ehrlich tumor cell reductase enzyme system could consist of at least two different enzymes that may be regulated by the same allosteric protein.

The nature of the deoxyribonucleosides involved in the binding of carcinogenic hydrocarbons to the DNA of mouse embryo cells

The DNA of mouse embryo cells was specifically labelled in the purine moieties with (G(3)H)-deoxyadenosine or in the cytosine moieties with (5-(3)H)-deoxycytidine. These cells were then treated with 7-methylbenz (a) anthracene (7MBA) or benzo (a)-pyrene (B(a)P) and the DNA isolated, degraded and fractionated by LH20 Sephadex column chromatography. When the purines of the DNA were tritium-labelled, radioactive hydroccarbondeoxyribonucleoside products were obtained. No such products were found with deoxycytidine pre-labelled DNA. Contrary to an earlier suggestion, these results indicate that it is the purine moieties of DNA which react with the metabolically activated hydrocarbon derivative in vivo.

Characterization of nucleoside transport in hymenolepidid cestodes

Three species of cestodes, Hymenolepis diminuta, H. citelli, and H. microstoma, were shown to transport nucleosides by a mediated process. In H. diminuta the Ki values of various competitive inhibitors led to the conclusion that at least 2 different loci are involved in the transport of nucleosides. One of these loci has greater specificity for the purine nucleosides, the other for pyrimidine nucleosides. No significant difference was observed in their affinity for ribo- or deoxyribonucleosides, although thymidine was slightly less effective as an inhibitor of ribonucleosides than was uridine. Transport by the pyrimidine nucleoside locus was stimulated by thymine, but not by hypoxanthine, whereas transport by the purine nucleoside locus was stimulated by hypoxanthine but not by thymine. Preloading the worms with thymine gave less stimulation of transport than did the presence of eoxgenous modulator. Efflux of previously accumulated nucleoside was not blocked by the presence of exogenous modulator. The presence of exgenous thymine enhanced the incorporation of uridine into the nonextractable pool. Thymine also stimulated uracil transport in H. citelli, but not in H. microstoma, and had no effect on uridine transport in either of these species. The results of transport and modulator studies on H. diminuta grown in hamsters were not different from the results with worms grown in rats indicating that the regulatory effects observed were an inherent function of the parasite and not the host.

Effect of cytostatic drugs on nucleic acid synthesis in mouse thymocytes and chick embryo cells

Cell suspensions of either mouse thymocytes or chick embryo cells were incubated with labelled precursors after preincubation with different cytostatic drugs. The total time of in vitro incubation was four hours. The ratio between the amount of incorporated labelled precursors and the total amount of DNA was determined and used to measure the cytostatic effect. All drugs used caused a marked depression of this ratio. The cytostatic drugs had no effect on the phosphorylation of thymidine.