Catabolism of adenosine 5'-monophosphate in promastigotes of Leishmania tropica.

The specific activities of enzymes participating in AMP-catabolizing reactions in promastigotes of Leishmania tropica were determined. The following sequence of reactions is suggested: AMP leads to adenosine leads to adenine leads to hypoxanthine. The initial enzyme of this sequence, AMP nucleotidase, is apparently membrane-bound. The significance of AMP catabolism with respect to adenylate energy charge and a signal transfering mechanism is discussed. Adenine deaminase has been partially purified and characterized. Several purine analogues, inter alia allopurinol, proved to be inhibitors of the adenine deaminase catalyzed reaction.