Metabolism of S-adenosylhomocysteine and S-tubercidinylhomocysteine in neuroblastoma cells

Abstract

The metabolism of the methylase product inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine and its 7-deaza analog S-tubercidinylhomocysteine was studied in cultured N-18 neuroblastoma cells. The latter compound, designed to resist metabolic degradation, is inert under conditions where S-adenosylhomocysteine is rapidly and extensively degraded. The product analyses elucidated by high-performance liquid chromatography indicate that the primary route of S-[8-14C]adenosylhomocysteine metabolism in these cells leads to adenosine. This product does not accumulate but is rapidly converted to nucleotides or oxypurines by the action of adenosine kinase and adenosine deaminase, respectively. The presence of the potent adenosine deaminase inhibitor coformycin leads to a pronounced inhibition of oxypurine formation, an increase in nucleotide formation and a slight accumulation of the primary metabolic products adenosine and adenine.