Purine ribonucleoside and deoxyribonucleoside kinase activities in thymocytes. Specificity and optimal assay conditions for phosphorylation
The optimal assay conditions and specificity for the principal reactions of purine nucleoside phosphorylation were studied in mouse thymocytes. The following relative activities were obtained for the nucleoside substrates: adenosine, 100; deoxyguanosine, 24; and deoxyadenosine, 14. The phosphorylation of adenosine, 45 μM, was optimal between pH 5.8 and 6.0 with a millimolar Mg:ATP ratio of 1:5. This activity was insensitive to inhibition by other nucleosides and dCTP. Optimal phosphorylation of deoxyguanosine, 350 μM, occurred at pH 8.4 with a millimolar Mg:ATP ratio of 10:3.5. Phosphorylation of 80 μM deoxyguanosine was inhibited approximately 90% by 10 μM deoxycytidine or dCTP and was inhibited 70% by 200 μM deoxyadenosine but unaffected by adenosine. Deoxyadenosine, 450 μM, phorphorylation was optimal between pH 6.5 and 8.5 with a millimolar Mg:ATP ratio of 5:1. Phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine, 100 μM, was partially inhibited by 200 μM adenosine, 34%; 200 μM deoxyguanosine, 10%; and 100 μM deoxycytidine or dCTP, 33%. Only deoxyadenosine phosphorylation was inhibited by 200 μM deoxyinosine, 10%. These results and those obtained from isokinetic sucrose density gradient analysis are consistent with there being a specific adenosine kinase, a faster sedimenting deoxycytidine kinase of broad specificity which also catalyzes the phosphorylation of deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine, and a specific deoxyguanosine kinase sedimenting more rapidly than either of the other activities.