Synthesis of adenine and guanine nucleotides at the 'inosinic branch point' in lymphocytes of leukemia patients

The synthesis of purine nucleotides has been studied in human peripheral bl ood lymphocytes from healthy subjects and patients affected by B-cell chron ic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). The rate of the synthesis was measured by following the incorporation of C-14-formate into the nucleotides of lymphoc yte suspensions. The whole sequence AMP --> ADP --> ATP was found reduced i n B-CLL lymphocytes; in the case of guanylates only the last step of the se quence GMP --> GDP --> GTP was significantly lower in the same cells. From the analysis of these results, combined with previous data, we conclude tha t purine metabolism undergoes an imbalancement during CLL, which is partial ly compensated, and point out the importance of studying concomitantly puri ne metabolism and nucleic acid synthesis in leukemia cells. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.