Inhibition of adenosine deaminase from several sources by deaza derivatives of adenosine and EHNA.

Deaza analogues of adenosine and EHNA were tested as inhibitors of the enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) obtained from several sources including human erythrocytes, calf intestine, Saccaromices cerevisiae, Escherichia coli and Takadiastase. Ki values of the inhibitors suggest differences among the enzymes both at purine and erythro-nonyl binding site. Among the ribofuranosyl derivatives, 1-deazaadenosine is the best inhibitor, its Ki ranging between 3.5 x 10(-7) and 4 x 10(-5) M for ADA from erythrocytes and Takadiastase respectively. Only ADA from erythrocytes and calf intestine bind EHNA and some of deazaEHNA analogues; 3-deazaEHNA behaves very similarly to EHNA both in affinity and slow binding mechanism, whereas 1-deazaEHNA, though less potent, is a good inhibitor.