Adenosine diphosphate: thymidine 5'-phosphotransferase, a new enzyme activity, associated with the Herpes simplex virus-induced deoxypyrimidine kinase

The deoxypyrimidine kinase induced in mouse fibroblasts, strain CLID (TK-) infected with either herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or type 2, possesses besides deoxypyrimidine kinase (ATP:dThd/dCyd phosphotransferase) two further enzyme activities: an AMP:dThd phosphotransferase and an ADP:dThd phosphotransferase. The latter enzyme activity, described in this report, was found to be inhibited by antiserum against the HSV deoxypyrimidine kinase and to be absent after infection with TK- mutant MDK 10 (B 2006). The ADP:dThd phosphotransferase, which had been purified approx. 340-fold, differs by a series of physicochemical properties from the viral AMP:dThd- and ATP:dThd phosphotransferase.     

Solvent-controlled regioselective protection of 5'-O-protected thymidine

This paper describes an efficient procedure for selective 3'-O- or 3-N-protection of 5'-O-tert-butyldimethylsilylthymidine, depending on the use of aprotic polar solvents with low or high dielectric constant, respectively. These syntheses were activated by either ultrasound or microwaves. Several alkyl bromides offer a convenient route to prepare 3'-O- or 3-N-protected and functionalized thymidine derivatives.     

Interaction of uridine diphosphate glucose analogs with calf liver uridine diphosphate glucose dehydrogenase. Influence of substituents at C-5 of pyrimidine nucleus.

The interaction of alpha-D-glucopyranosyl pyrophosphates of 5-X-uridines (X = CH3, NH2, CH3O, I, Br, Cl, OH) with uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPGlc) dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.22) from calf liver has been studied. All the derivatives investigated were able to serve as substrates for the enzyme. The apparent Michaelis constants for UDPGlc-analogs were dependent both on electronic and steric factors. Increase of substituent negative inductive effect lead to decrease of pKa for ionization of the NH-group in the uracil nucleus and, consequently, to a diminishing of the proportion of the active analog species under the conditions of assay. After correction for the ionization effect, the Km values were found to depend on the van der Waals radius of the substituent. The value of 1.95 A seems to be critical, as the analogs with bulkier substituents at C-5 showed a decreased affinity to the enzyme. The maximal velocity values of the analogs were also dependent on nature of the substituent. Good linear correlation between log V and substituent hydrophobic phi-constant was observed for a number of the analogs, although V values for the nucleotides with X = H, OH or NH2 were higher than would be expected on the basis of the correlation. The significance of the results for understanding of the topography of UDPGlc dehydrogenase active site is discussed.     

A 5′-amino analog of adenosine diphosphate

The synthesis and properties of the 5′-amino analog of adenosine diphosphate are described. The 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine 5′-N-diphosphate (_NADP) is prepared from the previously described aminonucleoside triphosphate by the hexokinase catalyzed transfer of the terminal phosphoryl to glucose. The _NADP is stable in neutral or basic media, and is similar to natural ADP in chromatographic, electrophoretic, and spectrographic properties. Snake venom phosphodiesterase degrades _NADP to the monophosphate _NAMP, and acid degrades both _NADP and _NAMP to 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine.     

Altered thymidine metabolism due to defects of thymidine phosphorylase.

Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is an autosomal recessive human disease due to mutations in the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) gene. TP enzyme catalyzes the reversible phosphorolysis of thymidine to thymine and 2-deoxy-D-ribose 1-phosphate. We present evidence that thymidine metabolism is altered in MNGIE. TP activities in buffy coats were reduced drastically in all 27 MNGIE patients compared with 19 controls. All MNGIE patients had much higher plasma levels of thymidine than normal individuals and asymptomatic TP mutation carriers. In two patients, the renal clearance of thymidine was approximately 20% that of creatinine, and because hemodialysis demonstrated that thymidine is ultrafiltratable, most of the filtered thymidine is likely to be reabsorbed by the kidney. In vitro, fibroblasts from controls catabolized thymidine in medium; by contrast, MNGIE fibroblasts released thymidine. In MNGIE, severe impairment of TP enzyme activity leads to increased plasma thymidine. In patients who are suspected of having MNGIE, determination of TP activity in buffy coats and thymidine levels in plasma are diagnostic. We hypothesize that excess thymidine alters mitochondrial nucleoside and nucleotide pools leading to impaired mitochondrial DNA replication, repair, or both. Therapies to reduce thymidine levels may be beneficial to MNGIE patients.     

Hydrogen-adduct radicals in thymidine and thymidine 5'-monophosphate photosensitized by proflavin. Protection by sulfur compounds (author's transl)]

At pH values 5 and 9, the influence of cysteine, cystine, 3-mercaptopropionic acid and S-methylcysteine on the induction of H-adduct radicals in thymidine and thymidine 5'-monophosphate photosensitized by proflavin is investigated. The results obtained indicate that efficient protection is given when the electrostatic interactions between the charged groups of the molecules present allow the close proximity of a thiol or a disulfide bridge and the proflavin - DNAs complex constituent. The scheme proposed for the mechanism involves the capture by the protector of an electron or a proton, indispensable intermediates in the formation of the H-adduct radicals.     

A new approach to the synthesis of the 5'-deoxy-5'-methylphosphonate linked thymidine oligonucleotide analogues.

A new synthetic method for the preparation of the 5'-deoxy-5'-methylphosphonate linked thymidine oligonucleotides (5'-methylenephosphonate analogues) was developed. The method is based on the use of a phosphonate protecting group, 4-methoxy-1-oxido-2-picolyl, enabling intramolecular nucleophilic catalysis which together with the condensing agent, 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride, secures fast and efficient formation of the 5'-methylenephosphonate internucleosidic bonds. The produced protected oligomers were treated with thiophenol and triethylamine to remove the phosphonate protecting groups, cleaved from the solid support using concentrated aqueous ammonia, and purified by HPLC. Several thymidine oligonucleotide analogues with the chain length of up to 20 nucleotidic units, in which all internal 5'-oxygen atoms have been replaced by methylene groups directly bound to phosphorus, were synthesised using this methodology.     

Effects of intestinally absorbed thymidine on tritiated thymidine utilization.

Experimental evidence presented suggests that [3H]TdR can be rapidly and efficiently transported from the intestine to the systemic circulation. This pathway for thymidine transport may be physiologically important since administration of cold thymidine in the drinking water enhances the utilization of a parenterally injected dose of [3H]TdR in several body tissues of the mouse.