Kay Fink

Paper chromatography data for purines, pyrimidines and derivatives in a variety of solvents

Abstract Paper chromatographic data for 215 purines,pyrimidines and derivatives in nine solvent systems have been reported. The data ae useful as an aid in identification of compounds, and for selection of solvents to perform various separations.

Lead poisoning. Further observations on erythrocyte pyrimidine-nucleotidase deficiency and intracellular accumulation of pyrimidine nucleotides.

Pyrimidine nucleotides, detectable in normal erythrocytes only in trace quantities if at all, were found to comprise 7-80% of the intracellular nucleotide pools in nine subjects with severe lead over-burden. Blood lead concentrations ranged from approximately equal to 200- to 400-microgram/dl packed cells, and the greatest accumulations of pyrimidine-containing nucleotides occurred in the two subjects with the highest blood lead levels. Most of the patients had mild or moderate anemia and moderate basophilic stippling evident in Wrights-stained peripheral smears. Pyrimidine nucleotidase activities were inhibited to 13-28% of the mean activity in normal control erythrocytes and even more so (5-15%) when compared to specimens with increased reticulocytes and young cells. Reticulocytosis was absent in two subjects and modest to moderate in the remainder, but erythrocyte assays revealed the substantial elevations in populations of young mean cell age. Inappropriately low reticulocyttial elevations in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase expected in populations of young mean cell age. Inappropriately low reticulocyte responses may reflect hematopoietic suppressive effects of lead at a variety of metabolic loci.

Urinary purines and pyrimidines in normal and leukemic subjects

Abstract Methods of separation, identification, and quantitation of urinary pyrimidines and purines have been described. The presence in human urine of cytidine, 2′-O-methylcytidine, 3-methylcytosine, adenosine, 1-methyladenine, N 6 -methyladenine, 1-methyladenosine, N 6 -methyladenosine, 1-methylguanosine, 1-methylinosine and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside are reported for the first time. The possible significance of the methylated compounds is discussed with particular emphasis on the 1-methyl and N 6 -methyl derivatives of adenosine.

Beta-aminoisobutyric acid, a possible factor in pyrimidine metabolism.

Summary (1) A compound frequently noted in a chromatographic study of urinary amino acids has now been isolated from the urines of two cancer patients and identified as beta-aminoisobutyric acid (BAIB). (2) In a group of 140 apparently healthy subjects, 52 individuals showed detectable urinary levels of BAIB (>0.15 millimole per liter), and three of these showed concentrations over 1 millimole per liter. Individual control subjects studied at intervals for periods up to 21/2 years showed little fluctuation in BAIB excretion. (3) In individual patients with neoplastic disease, the urinary BAIB level occasionally varied markedly and appeared to bear some relationship to the neoplastic process. Such variations are illustrated by a report of a case of chronic myelogenous leukemia. (4) Theoretical considerations pointed to a 5-methylpyrimidine as a likely precursor of BAIB, and evidence favoring this view was obtained by rat experiments in which BAIB excretion was produced by a diet containing large amounts of desoxyribonucleic acid but not by one similarly enriched in ribonucleic acid.

Serum ribonuclease in multiple myeloma

Abstract Evidence is presented to show that most patients with multiple myeloma have an increased level of serum RNase, assayed with the synthetic polymer, polycytidylate. In addition, the results suggest that the enzyme level may be a useful indicator of response to chemotherapy with the alkylating agents cyclophosphamide and melphalan in multiple myeloma. Preliminary results of enzyme levels in the urine suggest that high serum levels are due to excessive entry of RNase into the serum rather than to a decreased capacity for urinary excretion of the enzyme.

Additional Data from Two Kindreds with Genetically Induced Deficiencies of Erythrocyte Pyrimidine Nucleotidase

Two subjects, not previously reported in detail, had severe inherited deficiencies of erythrocyte pyrimidine nucleotidase. This was manifested hematologically by moderate hemolytic anemia with splenomegaly, morphologically by punctate basophilic stippling of Wrights stained erythrocytes, and biochemically by intraerythrocytic accumulation of pyrimidine nucleotides, elevated concentrations of reduced glutathione, and partial deficiencies of ribosephosphate pyrophosphokinase. All 5 of their children were asymptomatic and phenotypically normal except for intermediate reductions in activities of pyrimidine nucleotidase consistent with heterozygosity for an autosomal recessive defect.

A Substance Occasionally Found as a Major Ninhydrin-Reacting Component of Urine.

Summary An unidentified ninhydrin-reacting substance has been observed frequently on 2-dimensional paper chromatograms, prepared with urine from a wide variety of subjects, both normal and pathological. High concentrations are frequently found in the urine of patients with malignancy, and from results on some of the patients followed over an extended period of time, its concentration appears to be affected by certain therapeutic regimes. In leukemia, it may be reduced sharply in concentration, or disappear with a remission. A crude preparation has been obtained from urine by paper chromatography, and some of its properties investigated.