THE MECHANISM OF PYRIDINE NUCLEOTIDE SYNTHESIS IN EHRLICH ASCITES CARCINOMA AND HOST LIVER

Abstract

Labeled nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinic acid–adenine dinucleotide (NacAD) were identified following Dowex 2 (formate) chromatography of extracts of Ehrlich ascites cells and of livers of mice 3 and 6 h after injection of nicotinamide (Nam) (500 mg/kg) containing Nam-7-14C, and 3 h after injection of nicotinic acid (Nac) (50 mg/kg) containing Nac-7-14C into tumor-bearing animals. Labeled Nac mononucleotide (NacMN) was also identified in the liver extracts. The urinary metabolic products of the precursors were separated and partially characterized. Liver appeared to be somewhat more active in synthesis of NAD than tumor; the more efficient amidation of NacAD to NAD in liver probably contributes to this difference. The results are consistent with NacAD being an intermediate in NAD biosynthesis. Investigations of extracts of acetone powders of tumor provided evidence for two possible routes of synthesis (via NMN, and NacMN–NacAD): (1) Extracts incubated with Nam mononucleotide (NMN) and ATP formed NAD. (2) Extracts incubated with Nac-14C or Nam-14C with suitable supplementation gave rise to labeled NacMN, NacAD and NAD. These substances were isolated and their specific activities determined. Glutamine appeared to enhance NAD formation at the expense of NacAD. Although a net accumulation of NAD did not occur, the formation of Nam-14C from Nac-14C and the demonstration of NADase in the preparations suggested that NAD was formed but rapidly degraded.