Regulation of nucleotidase activities in animal tissues

The 5'-nucleotidases as regulators of nucleotide and drug metabolism

The 5'-nucleotidases are a family of enzymes that catalyze the dephosphorylation of nucleoside monophosphates and regulate cellular nucleotide and nucleoside levels. While the nucleoside kinases responsible for the initial phosphorylation of salvaged nucleosides have been well studied, many of the catabolic nucleotidases have only recently been cloned and characterized. Aside from maintaining balanced ribo- and deoxyribonucleotide pools, substrate cycles that are formed with kinase and nucleotidase activities are also likely to regulate the activation of nucleoside analogues, a class of anticancer and antiviral agents that rely on the nucleoside kinases for phosphorylation to their active forms. Both clinical and in vitro studies suggest that an increase in nucleotidase activity can inhibit nucleoside analogue activation and result in drug resistance. The physiological role of the 5'-nucleotidases will be covered in this review, as will the evidence that these enzymes can mediate resistance to nucleoside analogues.

Expression of pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase subclass I during erythrocyte maturation in rats

The subclass I enzyme of rat pyrimidine 5'-nucleotidase (P5N-I), which preferentially hydrolyzes (deoxy)CMP and UMP, is distributed specifically in red blood cells (RBCs), and its activity increases approximately six-fold as compared to the control value after erythropoietic induction by phenylhydrazine administration. In this study, we detected rat P5N-I protein by using antibodies against the chicken P5N-I enzyme. The molecular mass of rat P5N-I was approximately 37 kDa, as estimated by gel filtration chromatography and Western blot analysis. The pI value of the enzyme was approximately 5.7. This protein band was detected only in RBC lysate extract, i.e., not in cytosol from the erythropoietic spleen. Protein mass of the P5N-I enzyme, estimated by immunoblot analysis, was increased in proportion to the enzyme activity after erythropoietic induction in rats. No phosphorylation of the enzyme protein was detected by immunoblot analysis with anti-phosphoserine or anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the rat P5N-I enzyme is expressed specifically in reticulocytes and may therefore be essential in the maturation process of rat erythrocytes.

Mammalian 5'(3')-deoxyribonucleotidase, cDNA cloning, and overexpression of the enzyme in Escherichia coli and mammalian cells

5'(3')-Deoxyribonucleotidase is a ubiquitous enzyme in mammalian cells whose physiological function is not known. It was earlier purified to homogeneity from human placenta. We determined the amino acid sequences of several internal peptides and with their aid found an expressed sequence tag clone with the complete cDNA for a murine enzyme of 23.9 kDa. The DNA was cloned into appropriate plasmids and introduced into Escherichia coli and ecdyson-inducible 293 and V79 cells. The recombinant enzyme was purified to homogeneity from transformed E. coli and was found to be identical with the native enzyme. After induction with ponasterone, the transfected mammalian cells showed a gradual increase of enzyme activity. A human expressed sequence tag clone contained a large part of the cDNA of the human enzyme but lacked the 5'-end corresponding to 51 amino acids of the murine enzyme. Several polymerase chain reaction-based approaches to find this sequence met with no success. A mouse/human hybrid cDNA that had substituted the missing human 5'-end with the corresponding mouse sequence coded for a fully active enzyme.

Induction of human high K(M) 5'-nucleotidase in cultured 293 cells

Human 293 cells were stably transfected with a plasmid introducing a receptor for the ecdysone analog muristerone. The cells were further stably transfected with muristerone-inducible expression vectors carrying either the cDNA for the human high K(M) 5'-nucleotidase or the coding sequence of the nucleotidase linked to the 5'-end of the sequence for the green fluorescent protein. Upon induction, both types of transfectants overproduced nucleotidase activity in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Western blots gave values close to the expected subunit molecular masses of 65 and 92 kDa, respectively, excluding processing of the induced proteins. Cells induced to overexpress the nucleotidase showed a decreased growth rate and contained smaller pools of each of the four common ribonucleoside triphosphates. They showed no increased resistance to the toxicity of 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine.

Human high-Km 5'-nucleotidase effects of overexpression of the cloned cDNA in cultured human cells

5'-Nucleotidases participate, together with nucleoside kinases, in substrate cycles involved in the regulation of deoxyribonucleotide metabolism. Three major classes of nucleotidases are known, one on the plasma membrane and two in the cytosol. The two cytosolic classes have been named high-Km nucleotidases and 5'(3')-nucleotidases. Starting from two plasmids with partial sequences (Oka, J., Matsumoto, A., Hosokawa, Y. & Inoue, S. (1994) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 205, 917-922) we cloned the complete cDNA of the human high-Km nucleotidase into vectors suitable for transfection of Escherichia coli or mammalian cells. After transfection, E. coli overproduced large amounts of the enzyme. Most of the enzyme was present in inclusion bodies that also contained many partially degraded products of the protein. Part of the enzyme, corresponding to approximately 2% of the soluble proteins, was in a soluble active form. Stably transfected human 293 cells were obtained with a vector where the 3'-end of the nucleotidase coding sequence is linked to the 5'-end of the green fluorescent protein coding sequence. Several green clones overproduced both mRNA and fusion protein. Two clones with 10-fold higher enzyme activity were analyzed further. The nucleotidase activity of cell extracts showed the same substrate specificity and allosteric regulation as the high-Km enzyme. The growth rate of the two clones did not differ from the controls. The cells were not resistant to deoxyguanosine or deoxyadenosine, and did not show an increased ability to phosphorylate dideoxyinosine. Both ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside triphosphate pools were decreased slightly, suggesting participation of the enzyme in their regulation.

Mathematical models of purine metabolism in man

Experimental and clinical data on purine metabolism are collated and analyzed with three mathematical models. The first model is the result of an attempt to construct a traditional kinetic model based on Michaelis-Menten rate laws. This attempt is only partially successful, since kinetic information, while extensive, is not complete, and since qualitative information is difficult to incorporate into this type of model. The data gaps necessitate the complementation of the Michaelis-Menten model with other functional forms that can incorporate different types of data. The most convenient and established representations for this purpose are rate laws formulated as power-law functions, and these are used to construct a Complemented Michaelis-Menten (CMM) model. The other two models are pure power-law-representations, one in the form of a Generalized Mass Action (GMA) system, and the other one in the form of an S-system. The first part of the paper contains a compendium of experimental data necessary for any model of purine metabolism. This is followed by the formulation of the three models and a comparative analysis. For physiological and moderately pathological perturbations in metabolites or enzymes, the results of the three models are very similar and consistent with clinical findings. This is an encouraging result since the three models have different structures and data requirements and are based on different mathematical assumptions. Significant enzyme deficiencies are not so well modeled by the S-system model. The CMM model captures the dynamics better, but judging by comparisons with clinical observations, the best model in this case is the GMA model. The model results are discussed in some detail, along with advantages and disadvantages of each modeling strategy.

Age-related changes of AMP breakdown in chicken heart

The activity of adenylate deaminase, adenylate phosphatase and adenosine deaminase, as well as the endogenous content of adenine nucleotides, was examined in the heart of ageing chickens. In new-born (1-day-old) and young (20-day-old) chickens, AMP degradation in the heart seems to proceed preferentially through deamination, while in adult (1-year-old) through dephosphorylation. Compared with the adult heart, a 2-year-old one exhibits a decline of AMP catabolism. The total adenine nucleotide content and the concentration of ATP are higher in adult and aged chicken hearts, than in new-born and young ones. Adaptive mechanisms might occur in the heart of ageing chickens to ensure an adequate availability of adenine nucleotides.

Purification and characterization of cytoplasmic 5'(3')-nucleotidase from rabbit spleen: characteristic differences of the enzyme from the rat spleen nucleotidase

1. A 5'(3')-nucleotidase, which preferably hydrolyzed 3'-dTMP and 3'-dUMP, was highly purified from rabbit spleen cytosol. 2. The enzyme also hydrolyzes 3'-UMP, 5'-dUMP and guanine nucleotides, but does not hydrolyze any adenine nucleotides or cytosine nucleotides. 3. The activity is dependent upon Mg2+, Co2+ or Mn2+; the addition of deoxyinosine stimulates the activity, and the pH optimum for the hydrolysis of 3'-dTMP is 7.0. 4. Although the catalytic properties of the enzyme are similar to the 5'(3')-nucleotidase from rat spleen, these nucleotidases differ in their molecular disposition. 5. The charge state of the rabbit enzyme is slightly basic, and the subunit M(r) is about 27 kDa, while the value of the rat enzyme is 26 kDa. 6. Immunochemical experiments with the use of antibodies against the purified nucleotidase indicate that enzymes from rabbit spleen and from rat spleen are composed of different polypeptides.

A novel non-radioactive method for detection of nucleoside analog phosphorylation by 5'-nucleotidase

Cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase has been implicated in the phosphorylation of certain nucleosides of therapeutic interest. In vitro, IMP and GMP serve as the optimal phosphate donors for this nucleoside phosphotransferase reaction. Existing assays for nucleoside phosphorylation effected by 5'-nucleotidase require a radiolabeled nucleoside as the phosphate acceptor and separation of the substrate-nucleoside from product-nucleotide has been accomplished either by a filter binding method or HPLC. However, detection of the phosphorylation of unlabeled nucleoside by HPLC is difficult since the ultraviolet absorbance of the phosphate donor, IMP, frequently obscures the absorbance of newly formed nucleotide. The use of ribavirin 5'-phosphate (RMP, 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide riboside 5-monophosphate) as the phosphate donor obviates this difficulty since this triazole heterocycle does not significantly absorb at the wavelengths used to detect most nucleoside analogs. Using this procedure, a 5'-nucleotidase activity from the 100,000 x g supernatant fraction of human T-lymphoblasts deficient in adenosine kinase, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase, and deoxycytidine kinase, was characterized with regard to structure-activity relationships for certain inosine and guanosine analogs.

Inhibition of RNA- and DNA-synthesis by citrinin and its effects on DNA precursor-metabolism in V79-E cells

1. The RNA synthesis of V79-E cells was inhibited by the mycotoxin citrinin time- and concentration-dependently. 2. Among the different RNA species mainly the rRNA synthesis was found to be inhibited by 200 microM citrinin. 3. At different precursor concentrations DNA synthesis was inhibited by citrinin after 30 min at least whereas labelling of the acid soluble fractions was found to be 3-fold higher than in untreated cells. 4. Remarkable perturbation of the DNA precursor metabolism, including release of precursor into the medium, was found to occur during citrinin treatment.

Purification and partial characterization of the soluble low Km 5'-nucleotidase from human seminal plasma

Soluble low Km 5'-nucleotidase from human seminal plasma has been purified to homogeneity by one affinity and two gel-filtration chromatographic steps. The pure enzyme had a specific activity of 2000 nmol min-1 mg-1. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified low Km 5'-nucleotidase revealed a single polypeptide band of 40 +/- 7 kDa and a tetrameric structure of 160 +/- 10 kDa has been proposed for the native enzyme. The kinetic properties of low Km 5'-nucleotidase have been determined and rather unique characteristics have been found for this soluble low Km 5'-nucleotidase: the substrate efficiency was slightly higher for IMP with an optimum pH at 7.5; the enzyme showed an absolute dependence on Mg2+ ions. Ca2+ could replace Mg2+ ions for activity while other divalent cations could not substitute for Mg2+; the enzymes were equally activated by ATP and ADP up to 0.1 mM concentrations. At higher concentrations up to 1 mM, ADP was still an activator while ATP caused a gradual decrease of activation to the native activity. This effect could not be related to the Mg-ATP = complexes since the enzymic preparation Mg(2+)-free still showed the same biphasic pattern of activation.

Hydroxyurea increases the phosphorylation of 3'-fluorothymidine and 3'-azidothymidine in CEM cells

The triphosphates of the nucleoside analogues 3'-azidothymidine and 3'-fluorothymidine inhibit reverse transcriptase and are of therapeutic interest for the treatment of retrovirus infections. At equimolar concentrations 3'-fluorothymidine was more effectively transformed to the triphosphate by human CEM cells than azidothymidine which mainly accumulates as the monophosphate. Hydroxyurea, a drug that inhibits de novo synthesis of deoxyribonucleotides, considerably increased the ability of cells to phosphorylate both analogues. Addition of as little as 50 microM hydroxyurea decreased the amount of dideoxynucleoside required to attain a given intracellular concentration of its triphosphate by an order of magnitude. Hydroxyurea is known to shift the balance of substrate cycles between natural deoxynucleosides and their 5'-phosphates in the direction of synthesis and thereby to increase the import and intracellular phosphorylation of the nucleoside. The present results demonstrate a similar effect for the two analogues and raise the possibility of using this effect in therapy.

Rat spleen cytoplasmic nucleotidase: characterization and its physiological significance

1. A cytoplasmic nucleotidase, which preferably hydrolyzed 5'-dUMP, was investigated in rat spleen. 2. Total activity of the nucleotidase increased about 3-fold in the spleen of anemic rat was caused by phenylhydrazine administration. This increase was repressed by the injection of methotrexate, an inhibitor of DNA synthesis. 3. Activities of heme oxygenase or acid phosphatase did not correlate to the change of the nucleotidase activity. 4. The nucleotidase catalyzed dephosphorylation of 3'(5')-dUMP, 3'(5')-dTMP and 3'-UMP more readily, in the presence of Mg2+. Its optimum pH was around 6.0-6.5. It was stimulated by the addition of deoxyinosine. 5. These catalytic properties and tissue distribution of the enzyme, abundant in the thymus, spleen and intestine, were similar to that of 5'(3')-nucleotidase in rat liver [Fritzson P. (1978) Adv. Enzym. Regul. 16, 43-61]. 6. A possible physiological significance of the nucleotidase is in reutilization of preformed pyrimidine nucleotides.

Cytosolic purine 5'-nucleotidases of rat liver and human red blood cells: regulatory properties and role in AMP dephosphorylation

Of the various species of cellular 5'-nucleotidases, membranous, lysosomal and cytosolic, only the latter are likely to play a role in the physiologic dephosphorylation of the 5'-nucleoside monophosphates present in the cytoplasm. The necessity to preserve cellular ATP renders a strict control of the dephosphorylation as well as of the deamination of AMP mandatory, because both nucleotides are maintained in equilibrium by adenylate kinase. Our studies of cytosolic purine 5'-nucleotidases purified from rat liver and from human erythrocytes, reviewed in this presentation, have shown that both display complex kinetic properties. Both enzymes have markedly higher affinities for IMP and for GMP than for AMP. In addition, they are stimulated by nucleoside triphosphates, among them ATP and GTP, and inhibited by Pi. The erythrocytic purine 5'-nucleotidase is also stimulated by glycerate 2,3-bisphosphate. It could thus be expected that under conditions of ATP and GTP breakdown, particularly when accompanied by an increase in Pi, the dephosphorylation of AMP would be curtailed. To verify this hypothesis, experiments were performed with isolated rat hepatocytes and with human red blood cells. The rate of dephosphorylation of AMP was measured by following time-wise the production of adenosine in the presence of coformycin (or deoxycoformycin) and 5-iodotubercidin. The coformycins inhibit the deamination of adenosine into inosine by adenosine deaminase, and 5-iodotubercidin inhibits the recycling of adenosine into AMP by adenosine kinase. Upon induction of ATP catabolism by the addition of fructose to isolated rat hepatocytes, the dephosphorylation of AMP was nearly completely suppressed. In accordance with these results, the activity of the rat liver cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase, assayed in the presence of concentrations of substrate and effectors mimicking those measured in intact cells following the addition of fructose, was decreased as compared to control conditions. In hepatocytes in which ATP catabolism was induced by suppression of oxygen, the rate of dephosphorylation of AMP increased about 3-fold. However, in contradiction with these data, the activity of the cytosolic 5'-nucleotidase, measured under conditions mimicking anoxia, decreased markedly. In human erythrocytes, dephosphorylation of AMP did not occur under physiologic conditions, but proceeded when ATP catabolism was induced by glucose lack or by alkalinization. The rate of dephosphorylation of AMP was 3-fold higher during glucose deprivation than under alkaline conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The presence and activity in normal and regenerating rat liver postmicrosomal supernatant fraction of an enzyme with properties similar to those of membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase

An alkaline 5'-nucleotidase with properties similar to those of membrane-bound 5'-nucleotidase was recovered in soluble form in the postmicrosomal supernatant fraction (cytosol) of rat liver. The enzyme seems to constitute a quantitatively distinct fraction, since the activity in postmicrosomal supernatants was increased by a further 10% by additional homogenization of livers. Lysosomal acid phosphatase activity increased similarly, whereas other membrane-bound marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase I and glucose-6-phosphatase showed no increase when homogenization of liver tissue was continued. Gel-permeation chromatography and pH-dependence studies indicated that enzyme activity in the supernatant fraction with 0.3 mM-UMP or -AMP as substrate at pH 8.1 was about 85 or 100% specific respectively. In regenerating liver the enzyme recovered in soluble form showed decreased specific activity, in contrast with alkaline phosphatase measured for comparison. The nucleotidase activity per mg of cytosolic protein was 2.1 nmol/min with AMP as substrate. The total activity measured in the postmicrosomal supernatant was 1.5% of the homogenate activity measured in the presence of detergent.

Properties of cytosol 5'-nucleotidase and its role in purine nucleotide metabolism

5'-Nucleotidase which was found first in chicken liver and found to be located in cytosol was purified and characterized. This enzyme is termed cytosol 5'-nucleotidase for convenience. Some properties of this enzyme are summarized in Table 7. (Table: see text) The specific activity of cytosol 5'-nucleotidase in chicken liver cytosol is higher than that in rat liver cytosol. In response to a high protein diet the activity of cytosol 5'-nucleotidase in chicken liver increased, concurrently with those of purine nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine dehydrogenase. Of the three enzymes, the activity of cytosol 5'-nucleotidase reached a maximum most rapidly. In rat liver, the activities of these three enzymes did not increase on administration of a high protein diet. From these results the principal physiological function of the cytosol 5'-nucleotidase is assumed to be dephosphorylation of IMP as the first step in the pathway of uric acid formation from IMP, which is important in the elimination of nitrogen of amino acids and proteins in a uricotelic animal. An allosteric property of this enzyme is considered to be important for control of adenine and guanine nucleotide pools, especially in connection with the biosynthetic activity of the purine nucleotides in uricotelic animals.

Nucleotidase activities of human peripheral lymphocytes

Several B lymphoblastic cell lines are known to be relatively resistant to the combination of 2'-deoxyadenosine with an adenosine deaminase inhibitor. These cell lines are believed to have a greater capacity to dephosphorylate 2'-deoxyadenosine nucleotides, thus preventing excessive accumulation of potentially toxic metabolites. In this study, the 2'-deoxynucleoside 5'-monophosphate dephosphorylating activities of human peripheral lymphocytes were examined. Peripheral lymphocytes have at least three nucleotide 5'-monophosphate nucleotidases distinguished by different pH optimums, substrate preference, Mg2+ requirement, inhibitors, and molecular weights. Two of the enzymes appeared to be cytosolic, only one of which had significant substrate activity with dAMP. This enzyme had an acidic pH optimum (5.0), no Mg2+ requirement, was inhibited by tartrate, and demonstrated broad substrate specificity. The other cytosolic nucleotidase required Mg2+, had a pH optimum of 5.5 to 6.0, was activated by 2'-deoxyinosine, and demonstrated a substrate preference for 3'- and 5'-monophosphate 2'-deoxynucleosides of hypoxanthine, guanine, uracil, and thymine. The third enzyme, ecto 5'-nucleotidase, is associated with the cell membrane. Although the ecto 5'-nucleotidase activity was higher in the B lymphocytes, the cytosolic nucleotidases were similar in activity in the T and B lymphocytes.

Alterations of inosinate branchpoint enzymes in cultured human lymphoblasts

The specific activities of the three enzymes of the inosinate branchpoint are independently regulated when lymphoblasts are grown under various tissue culture conditions. In comparison to rapidly dividing cells, lymphoblasts at high cell density with no cellular division have decreased activity of the enzymes which commit inosinate to adenylate or guanylate, while cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase is relatively preserved. A linear relationship between inosinate dehydrogenase activity and growth rate (r = 0.92) exists in lymphoblasts with slowed growth rates. In contrast, in dividing cells adenylosuccinate synthetase and 5'-nucleotidase do not vary with growth rate. Adenylosuccinate synthetase and inosinate dehydrogenase activities appear to be related to the presence or rate of cellular division, as opposed to the presence or degree of neoplastic transformation. Lymphoblast lines with alterations of specific purine metabolic enzymes have characteristic alteration of the inosinate utilizing enzymes. Deficiencies of purine nucleoside phosphorylase or hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase, abnormalities which render the cell unable to salvage purine effectively, are associated with depressed inosinate dehydrogenase activity. Insertion of the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene into hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient cells normalizes inosinate dehydrogenase activity, while a hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase-deficient mutant selected from a hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase-containing line has depressed inosinate dehydrogenase activity. In contrast, overactivity of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase, with enhanced excretion of purines due to excessive production, is associated with elevated inosinate dehydrogenase activity. Inosinate dehydrogenase appears to be regulated according to the availability of purine nucleotides. Patients who overproduce uric acid and potentially have undescribed purine metabolic defects are now being screened for abnormalities in the inosinate branchpoint enzymes.

ATP, ADP and AMP in plasma from peripheral venous blood

ATP, ADP and AMP in concentrations at least 1 mumol/l have been found by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) in plasma from peripheral venous blood. Total adenine nucleotide concentrations of about 15-20 mumol/l can be found in some conventional clinical samples of blood using EDTA as an anticoagulant. EDTA prevented adenine nucleotide conversion to inosine in plasma. In order to estimate concentrations in vivo, the contribution derived from the cell breakage inherent even in careful venous blood sampling has been estimated by extrapolation to zero 'haemoglobin' concentration in plasma and minimum values in samples of small volume. Available results appear to be consistent with the release of small amounts of ATP in or near the peripheral circulation at the time of venepuncture. In CSF, ATP, ADP and AMP concentrations were less than 0.05 mumol/l suggesting that membrane activity in the central nervous system is not associated with non-specific leakage. The high Km variant of lymphocyte ecto-5'-nucleotidase was not associated with a significantly higher concentration of its substrate AMP in plasma. However, this enzyme may function on the lymphocyte in the thymus and spleen.

Thymidine triphosphate dephosphorylating activity in regenerating rat liver

The enzyme activity of dephosphorylation of thymidine triphosphate was found in microsomal fraction of rat liver. The enzyme activity decreased at the time when [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of regenerating liver increased. When the [3H]thymidine incorporation was suppressed by 1,3-diaminopropane, the enzyme activity remained elevated. These results suggest that the enzyme activity appears to be closely linked to DNA synthesis.

Regulation of purine metabolism by plasma membrane and cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidases

The contribution of plasma membrane 5'-nucleotidase (E.C. 3.1.3.5) to intracellular purine degradation and release was evaluated in cultured human lymphoblasts. B-lymphoblasts and T-lymphoblasts are characterized by high and low levels of plasma membrane 5'-nucleotidase activity, respectively. After radiolabeling of the cellular adenine nucleotide pools with [8-14C]adenine, deoxyglucose-induced purine nucleotide degradation resulted in a 2-2.5 times greater release of cellular radioactivity from the B-lymphoblasts than from the T-lymphoblasts. Specific inhibition of plasma membrane 5'-nucleotidase with 50 microM alpha, beta-methylene adenosine diphosphate (AMPCP) did not decrease purine release during deoxyglucose-induced nucleotide degradation. Similarly, the inhibition of B-lymphoblast membrane 5-nucleotidase did not alter the incorporation of [8-14C]adenine into the nucleotide pool. Therefore, to explain the relatively high release of purine nucleotide degradation products in B-lymphoblasts when compared with T-lymphoblasts, cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase activity was investigated in these cell lines. B-lymphoblasts have seven times more cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase activity for dAMP and two to three times more activity for other purine nucleoside 5'-monophosphates than do T-lymphoblasts at pH 7.4. Membrane and cytoplasmic nucleotidase activities are produced by different enzymes that can be distinguished by differences in pH optima, Michaelis constants for purine substrates, divalent cation requirements, and susceptibilities to AMPCP inhibition. The data suggest that plasma membrane 5'-nucleotidase hydrolyzes extracellular nucleoside 5'-monophosphates only. Cytoplasmic 5'-nucleotidase most likely regulates the degradation of intracellular nucleoside 5'-monophosphates and may be responsible for the increased purine release observed in B-lymphoblasts.

Metabolic basis for disorders of purine nucleotide degradation

Purine nucleotide degradation refers to a regulated series of reactions by which human purine ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides are degraded to uric acid in humans. Two major types of disorders occur in this pathway. A block of degradation occurs with syndromes involving immune deficiency, myopathy or renal calculi. Increased degradation of nucleotides occurs with syndromes characterized by hyperuricemia and gout, renal calculi, anemia or acute hypoxia. Management of disorders of purine nucleotide degradation is dependent upon modifying the specific molecular pathology underlying each disease state.