Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate inhibition

The first step of this sequence, which is not unique to de novo purine nucleotide biosynthesis, is the synthesis of 5-phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) from ribose-5-phosphate and adenosine triphosphate. Phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate synthetase, the enzyme that catalyses this reaction [278], is under feedback control by adenosine triphosphate [279]. Cordycepin interferes with thede novo pathway [229, 280, 281), and cordycepin triphosphate inhibits the synthesis of PRPP in extracts from Ehrlich ascites tumour cells [282]. Formycin [283], probably as the triphosphate, 9-0-D-xylofuranosyladenine [157] triphosphate, and decoyinine (LXXlll) [284-286] (p. 89) also inhibit the synthesis of PRPP in tumour cells, and this is held to be the blockade most important to their cytotoxic action. It has been suggested but not established that tubercidin (triphosphate) may also be an inhibitor of this reaction [193]. 

It has been suggested that thioguanine s multistep inhibition, one step of which is the inhibition of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase, results in a profound lowering of the intracellular concentration of guanine nucleoside phosphates and that this depletion causes a marked depression in cellular metabolism that presumably would lead to cell death [91 ]. 

In addition to the analogues listed in Table 2.3, cordycepin [302]. 3 -amino-3 -deoxyadenosine [173], and formycin [303] can inhibit the de novo pathway by blocking the phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase. Thus, a number ofpurine analogues—after anabolism to nucleoside phosphates—can act as feedback inhibitors, and this inhibition may be the primary cause of their cytotoxicity. 

ThiolMP and ThioGMP are feedback inhibitors of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amido-transferase, which is the first, and rate-limiting step in the synthesis of purine. In addition, these analogs inhibit the de novo biosynthesis of purine and block the conversion of inosinic acid to adenylic acid or guanylic acid. The triphosphate nucleotides are incorporated into DNA, and this results in delayed toxicity after several cell divisions. 

When injected, azathioprine (Imuran) is rapidly converted to 6-mercaptopurine. The half-life of azathioprine after intravenous injection is 10 to 20 min, and that of 6-mercaptopurine is somewhat longer. The cytotoxic activity of these thiopurines is due to the conversion of mercaptopurine to 6-thiouric acid, a noncarcinostatic metabolite. This action is thought to block the excess synthesis of inosinic acid from its precursors, glutamine and phosphoribosylpyrophosphate. In addition, unlike cyclophosphamide, azathioprine is a potent anti-inflammatory substance that can cause a reduction in the number of monocytes and neutrophils at inflammatory sites. Antibody responses are also inhibited by azathioprine. Studies in humans have shown that azathioprine decreases the y-globulin and antibody levels, thus influencing IgG rather than IgM production. This makes azathioprine an effective immunosuppressant in the early phases of immune responses. It is less effective or completely ineffective in altering either the effector phase or already established reactivities. 

Cooperative An excess of any of end products causes a partial inhibition of the first common step, whereas the simultaneous excess of two or more end products results in a greater inhibition Gluteunine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase is inhibited by either of GMPdMP or AMP/ADP but to a greater extent by their combined presence. 

Phosphoribosylpyrophosphate (PRPP) synthetase (E.C. 2.7.6.1) catalyzes the formation of PRPP from ribose-5-phosphate and ATP in the presence of Mg and inorganic phosphate. The product, PRPP, is a substrate of the first rate limiting step of the de novo synthesis of purine nucleotides and its availability has been shown to regulate this pathway in human tissue (l). A superactive mutant erythrocyte PRPP synthetase with decreased sensitivity to feedback inhibition has recently been found by us in a gouty family (2,3). 

A specific localization of the control mechanism has been found. The enzyme, phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase (44S) was inhibited by various purine ribonucleotides ATP and ADP were the most inhibitory (449). The regulation of enzyme activity by purine ribonucleotides offers a controlling mechanism for purine biosynthesis by maintaining a relatively constant amount of nucleotide within the cell. 

Nierlich, D.P. and Magasanik, B. 1965. Regulation of purine ribonucleotide synthesis by end product inhibition The effect of adenine and guanine ribonucleotides on the 5 -phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase in Aerobacter aerogenes. J. 

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