Eritadenines - Novel type of potent inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase

Rat liver SAH-hydrolase is strongly inhibited by four stereoisomeric 4-(adenin-9-yl)-2,3-dihydroxybutyric acids (eritadenines). D-Eritadenine, which is the most effective of the four, inactivates the catalytic activity of SAH-hydrolase at IC 50 = 1.2 .10 -8 mol l -1 in the hydrolytic reaction. The enzyme is irreversibly inhibited (τ/2 = 1.6 min). The inactivation activity decreases in the order D- erythro (2 R , 3 R ) L- erythro (2 S , 3 S ) threo (2 S , 3 R ) threo (2 R , 3 S ) configuration.