Metabolic effects of 3'-deoxyadenosine (cordycepin) and 2-halo-3'-deoxyadenosine on repair of X-ray-induced potentially lethal damage in Chinese hamster V79 cells

Using cultured Chinese hamster V79 cells, an attempt has been made to examine the phosphorylation of cordycepin and its 2-halo derivatives (2-chloro-3'-deoxyadenosine, 2-bromo-3'-deoxyadenosine, and 2-iodo-3'-deoxyadenosine) by adenosine kinase, within the cells, and to correlate it with their cytotoxicities and abilities to inhibit the repair of X-ray-induced potentially lethal damage (PLDR). Of all compounds, only cordycepin was found to be phosphorylated and showed both potent cytotoxicity and ability to inhibit PLDR.