Antifolates induce primary inhibition of the de novo purine pathway prior to 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide transformylase in leukemia cells. 1991

S D Lyons, and R I Christopherson
Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Polyglutamated dihydrofolate, accumulated as a result of potent inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), has been postulated to directly inhibit the purine pathway at 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribotide (AICAR) transformylase (reaction 9) in leukemia cells exposed to methotrexate (MTX). We have observed that 25 microM MTX or piritrexim, a "non-classical" antifolate, induce several-fold accumulations of AICAR and N-succino-AICAR to a combined cellular concentration of 89 microM in mouse L1210 leukemia cells after 2 h. By contrast, complete inhibition of reaction 4 by 25 microM azaserine results in accumulation of N-formyl-glycinamide ribotide (FGAR) polyphosphates to a combined cellular concentration of greater than 10 mM. MTX prevented azaserine-induced accumulation of FGAR polyphosphates. Hence, these antifolates induce primary inhibition of the de novo purine pathway at, or prior to, glycinamide ribotide transformylase (reaction 3).

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007939 Leukemia L1210 An experimental LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA of mice. Leukemia L 1210,L 1210, Leukemia,L1210, Leukemia
D008727 Methotrexate An antineoplastic antimetabolite with immunosuppressant properties. It is an inhibitor of TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE and prevents the formation of tetrahydrofolate, necessary for synthesis of thymidylate, an essential component of DNA. Amethopterin,Methotrexate Hydrate,Methotrexate Sodium,Methotrexate, (D)-Isomer,Methotrexate, (DL)-Isomer,Methotrexate, Dicesium Salt,Methotrexate, Disodium Salt,Methotrexate, Sodium Salt,Mexate,Dicesium Salt Methotrexate,Hydrate, Methotrexate,Sodium, Methotrexate
D011685 Purine Nucleotides Purines attached to a RIBOSE and a phosphate that can polymerize to form DNA and RNA. Nucleotides, Purine
D011687 Purines A series of heterocyclic compounds that are variously substituted in nature and are known also as purine bases. They include ADENINE and GUANINE, constituents of nucleic acids, as well as many alkaloids such as CAFFEINE and THEOPHYLLINE. Uric acid is the metabolic end product of purine metabolism.
D011743 Pyrimidines A family of 6-membered heterocyclic compounds occurring in nature in a wide variety of forms. They include several nucleic acid constituents (CYTOSINE; THYMINE; and URACIL) and form the basic structure of the barbiturates.
D005493 Folic Acid Antagonists Inhibitors of the enzyme, dihydrofolate reductase (TETRAHYDROFOLATE DEHYDROGENASE), which converts dihydrofolate (FH2) to tetrahydrofolate (FH4). They are frequently used in cancer chemotherapy. (From AMA, Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p2033) Antifolate,Antifolates,Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitor,Folic Acid Antagonist,Dihydrofolate Reductase Inhibitors,Folic Acid Metabolism Inhibitors,Acid Antagonist, Folic,Acid Antagonists, Folic,Antagonist, Folic Acid,Antagonists, Folic Acid,Inhibitor, Dihydrofolate Reductase,Inhibitors, Dihydrofolate Reductase,Reductase Inhibitor, Dihydrofolate,Reductase Inhibitors, Dihydrofolate
D000217 Acyltransferases Enzymes from the transferase class that catalyze the transfer of acyl groups from donor to acceptor, forming either esters or amides. (From Enzyme Nomenclature 1992) EC 2.3. Acyltransferase
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001377 Azaserine Antibiotic substance produced by various Streptomyces species. It is an inhibitor of enzymatic activities that involve glutamine and is used as an antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent. Azeserine,LL-D05139a,O-Diazoacetyl-L-serine,O Diazoacetyl L serine
D014407 Tumor Cells, Cultured Cells grown in vitro from neoplastic tissue. If they can be established as a TUMOR CELL LINE, they can be propagated in cell culture indefinitely. Cultured Tumor Cells,Neoplastic Cells, Cultured,Cultured Neoplastic Cells,Cell, Cultured Neoplastic,Cell, Cultured Tumor,Cells, Cultured Neoplastic,Cells, Cultured Tumor,Cultured Neoplastic Cell,Cultured Tumor Cell,Neoplastic Cell, Cultured,Tumor Cell, Cultured

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