Comparison and possible homology of isozymes of adenosine deaminase in Aves and humans.

Two kinetically distinct adenosine deaminase (ADA) isozymes with different molecular weights (35,000 and 100,000 daltons) are found in chicken liver in approximately equal amounts. The 100,000-dalton ADA has a markedly higher Km for adenosine and a markedly lower deaminating activity for deoxyadenosine relative to adenosine than does the 35,000-dalton ADA. A 100,000-dalton ADA isozyme has only recently been detected in mammalian tissues, where, in contrast to the chicken, it is only a trace component of total ADA activity. The human 100,000-dalton ADA isozyme, compared to the human 35,000-dalton ADA isozyme, has been reported to have a higher Km, a lower pH optimum, and a greater resistance to inhibition by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-2-nonyl) adenine (EHNA). The similarity in KmS of the 100,000-dalton ADA isozyme in man and aves led us to hypothesize that these isozymes might be descended from a common ancestor and therefore also be similar as to other kinetic parameters. We now report that the chicken 100,000-dalton ADA, like the human 100,000-dalton isozyme, has a lower pH optimum and a greater resistance to inhibition by EHNA than does the avian or human 35,000-dalton isozyme. In addition, the avian 100,000-dalton isozyme is relatively resistant to inhibition by deoxycoformycin and has a cathodal rather than an anodal electrophoretic mobility at pH 6.5. Conversely, we report that the human 100,000-dalton ADA isozyme, similar to the avian 100,000-dalton ADA, has markedly lower relative deaminating activity for deoxyadenosine than does the 35,000-dalton ADA human isozyme. Thus, despite the marked difference in the relative amount of the 100,000- and 35,000-dalton ADA isozymes in man as compared to aves, the 100,000-dalton ADA isozymes from both species exhibit several similar kinetic properties, all of which are different from those of the 35,000-dalton ADA isozymes. We also report using a new sensitive assay, relative rates of degradation by the two chicken isozymes of several naturally occurring modified adenine nucleosides which are inhibitory to in vitro human lymphocyte proliferation.