Effect of Azaserine (o-Diazoacetyl-L- serine) on the Pyridine Nucleotide Levels of Mouse Liver

Abstract

THE amount of diphosphopyridine nucleotide in mouse liver has been shown to increase upon the intraperitoneal injection of a number of pyridine derivatives^1,2; nicotinamide is the most effective, raising the level 8–10 times. Although nicotinic acid is as effective as many of the analogues, it appears to inhibit the synthesis when administered with nicotinamide, as compared with nicotinamide alone. Inhibition of synthesis from nicotinamide injection has also been reported with the administration of the purine antagonists 6-mercaptopurine and thioguanine^1,3. These inhibitions appear to affect only the level of diphosphopyridine nucleotide attained from nicotinamide injection and the rate of its subsequent return to the normal level, but do not appear to affect the basal level normally found in the liver.