Previous studies from this laboratory on the preservation of erythrocytes stored in vitro have shown that the storage lesion, as characterized by the decline in level of organic phosphate esters, may be reversed by incubating the aged cells with certain purine nucleosides (1). Pyrimidine nucleosides were ineffective in this respect, as was the addition of the purine bases and ribose, alone or i...

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing 8-hydroxyguanine and 2-hydroxyadenine, purine lesions produced in cells by reactive oxygen species, were synthesized and inserted into vector DNAs to introduce each lesion at a predetermined site. The manipulated DNAs were transfected into living cells, and the mutants induced by each DNA lesion were collected and analyzed. In addition, the mutations induced...

Protein structures from the causative agent of anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) are being determined as part of a structural genomics programme. Amongst initial candidates for crystallographic analysis are enzymes involved in nucleotide biosynthesis, since these are recognized as potential targets in antibacterial therapy. Purine nucleoside phosphorylase is a key enzyme in the purine-salvage pathwa...

Gaffkya homari, a micrococcus isolated from septicemic lobsters, has an obligate purine requirement (Aaronson, 1956). Further study shows this requirement to be satisfied by several natural purines as well as by several purine analogues. This broad response suggested that G. homari might be useful for studying purine biosynthesis. We wished especially to know whether G. homari utilized 4-amino-...

Purine nucleotides occur in blood but their precursors and turnover rates have not been investigated systematically. Because blood can be incubated ilz vitro for several hours without much change in the purine nucleotides present, we have been able to determine the rate of incorporation of various radioactive precursors into blood nucleotides. In addition to studying these reactions in whole hu...