[Metabolism of nucleotides and RNA in leukocytes in chronic myeloleukosis].

Biosynthesis of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides was distinctly increased in leukocytes of patients with chronic myeloid leukosis, involving mainly the reutilization of preformed nitrogenous bases and nucleosides. An increase in the rate of 14C-orotate and 3H-uridine incorporation into the pyrimidine pool of myeloid leukosis cells correlated with stimulation of uridine kinase and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase, catalyzing biosynthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides in the reutilization pathway and de novo, respectively. The system of adenosine deaminase, providing the high rate of adenosine incorporation into the nucleotide pool, was apparently responsible mainly for the rate of reutilization synthesis of purine nucleotides in normal and leukemic leukocytes. Synthesis of RNA in leukocytes of patients with chronic myeloleukemia was increased mainly due to consumption of nucleotides formed via the reutilization pathway.