Role of inositol starvation on ecto-5'-nucleotidase activity during mitogen-induced lymphocyte activation.

Cell-surface 5'-nucleotidase was assayed by incubating intact cells with 5' [3H]AMP in iso-osmotic buffer and measuring [3H]adenosine production. The activity of cell surface 5'-nucleotidase in small resting lymphocytes and in cells of the B cell line BCL1 was 5.7 and 1.1 nmol/min/mg protein respectively at 37 degrees C. The 5'-nucleotidase was inhibited by Concanavalin A and anti-IgM, the inhibition by anti-IgM being reversible. Incubating the lymphocytes in the presence and absence of mitogens in inositol-free medium for 15 min, 60 min, and 24 h had no effect on 5'-nucleotidase activity. The reaction product adenosine as well as adenine nucleotides were shown to inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation.