A kinetic study of the rat liver adenosine kinase reverse reaction

Adenosine kinase is an enzyme catalyzing the reaction: adenosine + ATP --> AMP + ADP. We studied some biochemical properties not hitherto investigated and demonstrated that the reaction can be easily reversed when coupled with adenosine deaminase, which transforms adenosine into inosine and ammonia. The overall reaction is: AMP + ADP --> ATP + inosine + NH(3). The exoergonic ADA reaction shifts the equilibrium and fills the energy gap necessary for synthesis of ATP. This reaction could be used by cells under particular conditions of energy deficiency and, together with myokinase activity, may help to restore physiological ATP levels.     

Adenosine Kinase from Rat Liver: New Biochemical Properties

Adenosine kinase is a well-known enzyme which catalyzes the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP: Its metabolic and kinetic properties are well studied. Here, we report new properties of rat liver enzyme, demonstrating a new reaction: ADP can be a phosphate donor instead ATP, according to the reaction: adenosine + ADP → 2AMP) demonstrating the efficiency of AdK to phosphorylate adenosine, also starting from ADP. Cells could exploited this property in situations in which ATP levels are strongly decreased and ADP decreases slowly.     

Adenylate kinase bound to the envelope membranes of spinach chloroplasts.

The activity of adenylate kinase (ATP:AMP phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.4.3) in both the forward (2ADP → ATP + AMP) and backward (ATP + AMP → 2ADP) reactions was found to be associated with the envelope membranes which were isolated from spinach chloroplasts. Sonication and repeated washing in a medium of high ionic strength were unable to release the enzymes from the envelope membranes. Adenylate kinase bound to the envelope is stable in the cold and inactivated by heat and acid treatments. The enzyme requires magnesium ion as an activator. The pH-activity profile of the forward reaction catalyzed by membrane-bound adenylate kinase gave a maximal activity at pH 8.5. The apparent Michaelis constant, K_m, value for ADP in the forward reaction was estimated to be 1.3 ± 0.2 × 10^?4m. A Lineweaver-Burk plot of the forward reaction gave a straight line when the reciprocal of the reaction rate was plotted versus the reciprocal, and not the square of the reciprocal, of the concentration of substrate ADP. This favors the view that the adenylate kinase bound to the chloroplast envelope has a single or equivalent binding site of Mg-ADP^?. The probable involvement of adenylate kinase bound to the chloroplast envelope in controlling the energy pool and adenylate translocation in chloroplasts is suggested.     

Adenosine kinase from rat liver: new biochemical properties

Adenosine kinase is a well-known enzyme which catalyzes the phosphorylation of adenosine to AMP: Its metabolic and kinetic properties are well studied. Here, we report new properties of rat liver enzyme, demonstrating a new reaction: ADP can be a phosphate donor instead ATP, according to the reaction: adenosine + ADP --> 2AMP) demonstrating the efficiency of AdK to phosphorylate adenosine, also starting from ADP. Cells could exploited this property in situations in which ATP levels are strongly decreased and ADP decreases slowly.     

PURINE NUCLEOTIDE METABOLISM IN THE CAT BRAIN AFTER ONE HOUR OF COMPLETE ISCHEMIA

—Complete cerebral ischemia was produced in normothermic anaesthetized cats by clamping the innominate and the left subclavian arteries combined with lowering the blood pressure. After 1 h of ischemia, ATP was no longer present in detectable amounts. Total adenine nucleotides were reduced to 34 per cent of the normal level. The breakdown of guanine nucleotides was less marked, with small amounts of GTP still being present at the end of the ischemic period. In animals with signs of functional recovery after 3–7 h of recirculation, ATP was resynthesized to 62 per cent of the control level. Total adenine nucleotides increased to 68 per cent and the adenylate energy change—[ATP + 1/2 ADP]/[AMP + ADP + ATP]—was re-established to within 7 per cent of the pre-ischemic value. Radiochromatography of nucleotides following intravenous injection of [¹⁴C]formate indicated a marked enhancement of postischemic purine de novo synthesis. Purine nucleosides and free bases which accumulated during ischemia, were partially re-utilized by salvage pathways: adenosine was rephosphorylated to AMP by adenosine kinase (EC 2.7.1.20); inosine and hypoxanthine were re-used via IMP in a reaction mediated by hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase (EC 2.4.2.8).     

Interrelationships between the membrane-bound ATP-dependent energy systems of the gastric mucosa and the gastric cytoprotective effect of beta-carotene on the development of gastric mucosal damage produced by 0.6 M HCl in rats

The effects of different doses (0.01-0.1-1.0-10.0/mg/kg-1) of beta-carotene were studied on gastric secretory responses of 4 hr pylorus-ligated rats: development of gastric mucosal damage (as assessed by number and severity of lesions) produced by intragastric administration of 0.6 M HCl; tissue level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenylate pool (ATP + ADP + AMP), ratio of ATP X ADP-1, "energy charge" (ATP + 0.5 ADP X X (ATP + ADP + AMP)-1) (during the development of gastric mucosal damage by 0.6 M HCl and of gastric cytoprotection by beta-carotene. It was found that beta-carotene did not decrease the gastric secretory responses of 4 hr pylorus-ligated rats; The development of gastric mucosal damage could be decreased dose-dependently by the administration of beta-carotene; the ATP transformation could be decreased by beta-carotene; the tissue levels of cAMP and AMP could be increased significantly and dose-dependently by beta-carotene; the ratio of ATP X ADP-1 could be increased significantly and dose-dependently by beta-carotene; the values of adenylate pool and "energy charge" remained unchanged.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Uptake of AMP, ADP, and ATP in Escherichia coli W

The uptake activity ratio for AMP, ADP, and ATP in mutant (T-1) cells of Escherichia coli W, deficient in de novo purine biosynthesis at a point between IMP and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxiamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), was 1:0.43:0.19. This ratio was approximately equal to the 5'-nucleotidase activity ratio in E. coli W cells. The order of inhibitory effect on [2-3H]ADP uptake by T-1 cells was adenine > adenosine > AMP > ATP. About 2-fold more radioactive purine bases than purine nucleosides were detected in the cytoplasm after 5 min in an experiment with [8-1?C]AMP and T-1 cells. Uptake of [2-3H]adenosine in T-1 cells was inhibited by inosine, but not in mutant (Ad-3) cells of E. coli W, which lacked adenosine deaminase and adenylosuccinate lyase. These experiments suggest that AMP, ADP, and ATP are converted mainly to adenine and hypoxanthine via adenosine and inosine before uptake into the cytoplasm by E. coli W cells.     

Flow system for fish freshness determination based on double multi-enzyme reactor electrodes

A double reactor system for the determination of fish and shellfish freshness using the freshness indicator, K-value (K=[(HxR+Hx)/(ATP+ADP+AMP+IMP+HxR+Hx)]x100), was developed, where ATP, ADP, AMP, IMP, HxR and Hx are adenosine triphosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate, inosine and hypoxanthine, respectively. The system consisted of a pair of enzyme reactors with an oxygen electrode positioned close to the respective reactor. The enzyme reactor (I) was packed with nucleoside phosphorylase and xanthine oxidase immobilized simultaneously on chitosan beads (immobilized enzyme A). Similarly, the enzyme reactor (II) was packed with immobilized enzyme A and immobilized enzyme B (co-immobilized alkaline phosphatase and adenosine deaminase). Moreover, this reactor consisted of two layers, the enzyme A and enzyme B (1:1). A good correlation was obtained between K values, which were determination by the proposed system and by the HPLC method. One assay could be completed within 5 min. The signal for the determination of K value of fish and shellfish was reproducible within 2.3%. The long-term stability of the enzyme reactors was evaluated at 30 degrees C for 28 days.     

ATP breakdown and resynthesis in the development of gastrointestinal mucosal damage and its prevention in animals and human (an overview of 25 years ulcer research studies).

The changes in membrane-bound ATP systems (breakdown and resynthesis) were analyzed in different experimental ulcer models (such as ETOH, HCl, NaOH, 25% NaCl-induced, pyloric ligated + epinephrine treated, stress, reserpine treated, indomethacin treated rat models) and chronic antral, duodenal and jejunal ulcers in patients. The energy system parameters (adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), cyclic AMP (cAMP), lactate) were measured from different sites of gastrointestinal mucosa, and values of ATP/ADP, adenylate pool (ATP + ADP + AMP) and energy charge ((ATP + 0.5 ADP)/(ATP + ADP + AMP)) were calculated. The biochemical measurements were done at different times during the development of gastrointestinal mucosal lesions, without and with application of different drugs (PGI2, atropine, cimetidine) and bilateral surgical vagotomy. The aims of our present paper were: 1.) To summarize the main directions of ATP breakdown during the development of gastrointestinal lesions or ulcers in different experimental models and human beings: 2.) To summarize the biochemical steps of defense of gastrointestinal mucosa against chemicals, drugs or unknown pathogenic factors; 3.) To analyze the importance of membrane-bound ATP-dependent energy systems in order to understand the mucosal lesions and their prevention; 4.) To evaluate the real values of changes in these parameters from the point of view of ulcerogenesis and its prevention; 5.) To find some correlation between the energy parameters during mucosal damage and its prevention: 6.) To understand better the types of tissue reactions (metabolic) due to development of mucosal lesions and prevention.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Human placental adenosine kinase. Kinetic mechanism and inhibition

The kinetic properties of human placental adenosine kinase, purified 3600-fold, were studied. The reaction velocity had an absolute requirement for magnesium and varied with the pH. Maximal activity was observed at pH 6.5 with a Mg2+:ATP ranging from 1:1 to 2:1. High concentrations of Mg2+ or free ATP were inhibitory. Double reciprocal plots of initial velocity studies yielded intersecting lines for both adenosine and MgATP2-. The Michaelis constant was 0.4 micro M for adenosine and 75 micro M for MgATP2-. Inhibition by adenosine was observed at concentrations greater than 2.5 micro M. AMP was a competitive inhibitor with respect to adenosine and a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to ATP. ADP was a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to adenosine and ATP. Hyperbolic inhibition was observed during noncompetitive inhibition of adenosine kinase by AMP and ADP. Other purine and pyrimidine nucleoside mono-, di-, and triphosphates were poor inhibitors in general. S-Adenosylhomocysteine and 2'-deoxyadenosine inhibited adenosine kinase. The data suggest that (a) MgATP2- is the true substrate of adenosine kinase, and both pH and [Mg2+] may regulate its activity; (b) the kinetic mechanisms of adenosine kinase is Ordered Bi Bi; and (c) adenosine kinase may be regulated by the concentrations of its products, AMP and ADP, but is relatively insensitive to other purine and pyrimidine nucleotides.     

Cytosolic adenylates and adenosine release in perfused working heart. Comparison of whole tissue with cytosolic non-aqueous fractionation analyses

Free cytosolic adenylates were examined in relation to adenosine plus inosine released from perfused working guinea-pig hearts. Whole-tissue adenylate data from freeze-clamped hearts were quantitatively compared with corresponding values obtained by subcellular fractionation of homogenized myocardium in non-aqueous media. Adenosine and inosine in venous cardiac effluents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Hearts, perfused at their natural flows, were subjected to various workloads, substrates and catecholamines to alter myocardial energy metabolism and respiration over a wide physiological range. Non-aqueous cytosolic ATP and creatine phosphate (CrP) accounted for more than 80% of the respective total myocardium content. The cytosolic CrP/Pi ratio was in near-quantitative agreement with the overall tissue CrP/Pi ratio when the latter parameter was corrected for extracellular Pi. This was conclusive evidence that ATP, CrP and Pi were predominantly located in the cytosol of the well-oxygenated cardiomyocyte. Measured myocardial oxygen uptake (MVO2) was reciprocally related to the phosphorylation state of CrP [( CrP]/[Cr] X [Pi]) and hence that of ATP [( ATP]/[ADP] X [Pi]) assuming the creatine kinase at near-equilibrium at a near-constant pH of 7.2. On the other hand, calculated mean free cytosolic ADP concentrations increased essentially linearly up to threefold with increasing MVO2 in the presence of virtually unchanged or only slightly decreased ATP levels; this was found both according to the whole tissue and the special subcellular fractionation data. Employing the myokinase mass-action ratio and substituting total cardiac ADP by the mean free cytosolic ADP concentrations, the mean free cytosolic AMP concentrations proved to be in the nanomolar range, i.e. up to three orders of magnitude lower than the overall tissue AMP content. We propose, therefore, that in the normoxic heart, AMP is located predominantly in the mitochondrial compartment. Nevertheless, both free cytosolic AMP concentration and release of adenosine plus inosine were apparently square or even higher-power functions of the rate of cardiac respiration. On the other hand, the mean purine nucleoside release seemed linearly correlated (r = 0.920) with the calculated free cytosolic AMP concentration. Our observations seem to suggest that the concentrations of free ADP and AMP in the cytosol are major determinants of the production of inosine and coronary vasodilator adenosine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Adenylate kinase of plants. Properties of adenylate kinase of pea leaves]

The properties of adenylate kinase in 2 ADP in equilibrium ATP + AMP reaction have been studied. The dependence of the enzyme activity on medium pH, protein concentration, substrates, Mg++ ions, AMP, adenine and adenosine has been also investigated. pH optimum is found to be 8.5 for forward reaction and 8-9--for the reverse one. The Michaelis constants are as follows: for ADP--1.17-10(-4) M, for ATP--3.33-10(-4) M at 24 degrees C, in 50 mM tris-HCl pH 7.6. The optimal ratio, Mg++ ions/substrates (ADP, ATP + AMP), is 1:2. The chelates of adenine nucleotides with Mg++ ions are proved to be "true" reaction substrates. Unlike adenine and adenosine, the product of AMP reaction inhibits adenylate kinase activity. It is concluded that the properties of adenylate kinase in plants are similar to those of animals and humans (moikinase).     

Cellular energy systems and reserpine ulcer in rats

Gastric ulcer was elicited in rats by reserpine (5 mg x kg-1 sc.) administration. Ulcer formation (number and severity) was measured 6, 12, 18 and 24 hr after reserpine administration. At the time of killing of the animals, tissue levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) were measured enzymatically and by radioimmunoassay in the gastric fundal mucosa. The sum of ATP + ADP + AMP (adenylate pool) and the ratio of ATP x ADP-1 were calculated. It was found that (1) the tissue levels of ATP, AMP, cAMP, sum of ATP / ADP + AMP (adenylate pool) and ratio of ATP x ADP-1 increased significantly in the gastric fundal mucosa 6 hr after reserpine administration, thereafter these values decreased gradually and significantly; (2) the tissue level of ADP increased significantly in the gastric fundal mucosa 6 hr after reserpine administration, meanwhile its level increased significantly at 18 and 24 hr; (3) the value of energy charge (ATP + 0.5 ADP x ATP + ADP + AMP-1) remained unchanged; (4) the peaks of biochemical alterations in the gastric fundus mucosa preceded he appearance of ulcers. It was concluded that (1) reserpine ulcer appears after an active metabolic response in the rat gastric fundal mucosa; (2) hypoxaemic damage in the gastric fundal mucosa can be excluded as a possible underlying mechanism of ulcer formation produced by reserpine administration; (3) before the appearance of reserpine ulcer, significant changes in the feedback mechanism, system, i.e. between the ATP--membrane ATPase--ADP and the ATP--adenylate cyclase--cAMP energy systems, can be observed in the rat gastric fundal mucosa.     

Adenosine triphosphate catabolism in homogenates of rat secretory enamel organs incubated in histochemical lead media

Summary To investigate how lead, when used as trapping agent, influences the ATP hydrolysis and to study how ATP is catalyzed in histochemical systems, homogenized secretory enamel organs were incubated in histochemical [³H]-ATP media. Aliquots from the media were taken after 3, 10, 20 and 30 min, and ATP and formed metabolites were separated by electrophoresis and radiometrically quantitated.In media lacking both lead and homogenate 2% of the ATP was spontaneously hydrolyzed during 30 min incubation at room temperature. The presence of lead caused an additional 8% hydrolysis at pH 7.2 and an additional 20% hydrolysis at pH 9.4. In the presence of homogenate, however, lead caused a net decrease of the hydrolysis of ATP as well as of ADP and AMP. This enzyme inhibition varied from around zero to some 80%, depending on pH and substrates involved.In homogenate-containing lead media, at both pH 7.2 and 9.4, ATP was rapidly hydrolyzed primarily to ADP and subsequently to AMP and adenosine and/or inosine. After 5–10 min ADP constituted the predominant substrate at both pH:s. At pH 7.2 ADP remained so for the rest of the incubation, whereas at pH 9.4 AMP was the predominant substrate at the end of the incubation. AMP was the final catabolic product in experiments at pH 7.2, and adenosine and/or inosine at pH 9.4. Inorganic phosphate was liberated almost linearly during the whole incubation period.The results indicate that histochemical studies of substrate specific ATP-ases should be performed with short incubation times and, when high specific activities are present, in large quantities of incubation media to reduce interference by ADP and AMP hydrolyzing enzymes.     

Affinity labeling of AMP-ADP sites in heart phosphofructokinase by 5-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine.

The purine nucleotide derivative, 5′-p-fluorosulfonylbenzoyl adenosine (5′-FSO₂B_ZAdo) functions as an affinity label for the allosteric sites of phosphofructokinase. The modified enzyme at pH 6.9 is insensitive to allosteric inhibition by ATP, activation by AMP, c-AMP, ADP and shows no sigmoidal kinetics for fructose-6-P. The reaction does not appear to occur at the catalytic site since modification of the enzyme does not significantly affect its specific activity nor its Michaelis constant at pH 8.2. ADP, and to a much lesser degree AMP and ATP, protects the enzyme from modification by the adenosine reagent. The modified enzyme essentially does not bind significant amounts of AMP, c-AMP, ADP, but still binds an analog of ATP, AppNHp. The adenosine affinity label will be of value in studies on the nature of the AMP-ADP allosteric sites.     

Detection and determination of adenosine diphosphate and related substances in plasma

1. A method is described for detecting and determining the products of metabolism of ADP added to plasma at initial concentrations of about 1mum-ADP. 2. ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine, inosine and hypoxanthine were detected in human platelet-rich plasma after incubation with ADP and in the presence of either heparin or heparin-citrate. 3. The products of incubation of ADP with human platelet-poor plasma in the presence of heparin were the same as with platelet-rich plasma, except that, when the initial concentration of ADP was 1.5mum, little or no ATP was detected. 4. The ATP detected in platelet-rich plasma when 1.5mum-ADP was initially incubated was present in the platelets and not in the plasma. 5. The time for 50% decay of ADP in either platelet-rich or platelet-poor plasma in the presence of heparin was about 20min. when the initial concentration of ADP was 200mum, but was 6-9min. when the initial ADP concentration was 1.5-2.5mum. The corresponding values in the presence of heparin-citrate were about 45min. and about 9-12min. respectively. 6. Hypoxanthine accumulated to a greater extent in platelet-rich than in platelet-poor plasma after the addition of ADP. 7. After incubation for 15-20min. of either platelet-rich plasma or suspensions of washed platelets in saline with adenosine at an initial concentration of about 3-4mum, ATP, ADP and AMP were detected in the platelets. Similar incubations of washed platelets with inosine also showed the formation of these substances, but to a much less extent. 8. After the addition of adenosine to suspensions of washed platelets in saline, inosine and hypoxanthine were detected in the incubation mixture. After the addition of inosine, hypoxanthine was detected. 9. When ADP at an initial concentration of 1.5mum was added to platelet-rich plasma containing adenosine deaminase, no adenosine was detected in the incubation mixture. There was no difference in the rate of decay of ADP in the presence or absence of the deaminase, but ATP formation was decreased in its presence.     

Role of CFTR’s intrinsic adenylate kinase activity in gating of the Cl− channel

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a Cl^?channel in the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter protein family. CFTR features the modular design characteristic of ABC transporters, which includes two membrane-spanning domains forming the channel pore, and two ABC nucleotide-binding domains that interact with ATP and contain the enzymatic activity coupled to normal gating. Like other ABC transporters CFTR is an ATPase (ATP + H₂O → ADP + P_i). Recent work has shown that CFTR also possesses intrinsic adenylate kinase activity (ATP + AMP ? ADP + ADP). This finding raises important questions: How does AMP influence CFTR gating? Why does ADP inhibit CFTR current? Which enzymatic activity gates CFTR in vivo? Are there implications for other ABC transporters? This minireview attempts to shed light on these questions by summarizing recent advances in our understanding of the role of the CFTR adenylate kinase activity for channel gating.     

Adenosine triphosphate catabolism in homogenates of rat secretory enamel organs incubated in histochemical lead media.

To investigate how lead, when used as trapping agent, influences the ATP hydrolysis and to study how ATP is catalyzed in histochemical systems, homogenized secretory enamel organs were incubated in histochemical [3H]-ATP media. Aliquots from the media were taken after 3, 10, 20 and 30 min, the ATP and formed metabolites were separated by electrophoresis and radiometrically quantitated. In media lacking both lead and homogenate 2% of the ATP was spontaneously hydrolyzed during 30 min incubation at room temperature. The presence of lead caused an additional 8% hydrolysis at pH 7.2 and an additional 20% hydrolysis at pH 9.4. In the presence of homogenate, however, lead caused a net decrease of the hydrolysis of ATP as well as of ADP and AMP. This enzyme inhibition varied from around zero to some 80%, depending on pH and substrated involved. In homogenate-containing lead media, at both pH 7.2 AND 9.4, ATP was rapidly hydrolyzed primarily to ADP and subsequently to AMP and adenosine and/or inosine. After 5--10 min ADP constituted the predominant substrate at both pH:s. At pH 7.2 ADP remained so for the rest of the incubation, whereas at pH 9.4 AMP was predominant substrate at the end of the incubation. AMP was the finan catabolic product in experiments at pH 7.2, and adenosine and/or inosine at pH 9.4. Inorganic phosphate was liberated almost linearly during the whole incubation period. The results indicate that histochemical studies of substrate specific ATP-ases should be performed with short incubation times and, when high specific activities are present, in large quantities of incubation media to reduce interference by ADP and AMP hydrolyzing enzymes.     

Extracellular Interconversion of Nucleotides Reveals an Ecto-Adenylate Kinase Activity in the Rat Hippocampus

Here, the extracellular interconversion of nucleotides and nucleosides was investigated in rat hippocampal slices and synaptosomes by an HPLC-UV technique. Adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) was converted to adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP), adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP), adenosine, inosine, and hypoxanthine in the slices, whereas ADP elicited parallel and concentration-dependent formation of ATP and AMP. The specific adenylate kinase inhibitor diadenosine pentaphosphate decreased the rate of decomposition of ADP and inhibited the formation of ATP. No substantial changes in the interconversion of ADP to ATP and AMP were found in the presence of dipyridamole, flufenamic acid, the P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal-5-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,4′-disulphonic acid tetrasodium (PPADS), and the alkaline phosphatase substrate para-nitrophenylphosphate. Negligible levels of nucleotides were generated when uridine 5′-diphosphate (UDP), AMP or adenosine were used as substrates. Ecto-adenylate kinase activity was also observed in purified synaptosomes. In summary, we demonstrate the presence of an ecto-adenylate kinase activity in the hippocampus, which is a previously unrecognized pathway that influences the availability of purines in the central nervous system.     

Uptake and Metabolism of [3H] Adenosine by Aplysia Ganglia and by Individual Neurons

[3H]Adenosine was taken up and metabolized by isolated ganglia of the marine mollusc Aplysia californica. After 2 h, most of the radioactivity was recovered as metabolites, including ATP, ADP, and AMP, as well as the deaminated products, inosine, hypoxanthine, and uric acid. Little remained in the form of adenosine. These pathways were not uniformly distributed among various tissue elements. In most individual neurons, inosine and its breakdown products were the principal metabolites of [3H]adenosine, whereas ATP and other nucleotides predominated in the connective tissue sheath. Endogenous levels of ATP, ADP, AMP, and adenosine in ganglia, sheath, and individual neurons were also determined using a fluorimetric-HPLC assay. The concentrations of the nucleotides were quite uniform in sheath and among the individual neurons assayed (1-5 pmol/microgram of protein); however, concentrations of adenosine were considerably higher in neurons than in the sheath.