Diadenosine 5',5'''-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from Physarum polycephalum. Substrate specificity

The substrate specificity of diadenosine 5',5"'-P1,P4-tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from Physarum polycephalum for dinucleoside polyphosphates has been determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HP-LC). Elution of a strong anion-exchange resin with a pH and ionic strength gradient of ammonium phosphate separates a series of monoadenosine and diadenosine polyphosphates. Most of the corresponding guanine nucleotides are also resolved on this HPLC system. One mole each of Ap4A and Gp4G is symmetrically hydrolyzed to 2 mol of ADP and GDP, respectively. Ap3A, Ap5A, Ap6A, and Ap4 are hydrolyzed, and in each case ADP is one of the products. Gp3G, Gp5G, Gp6G, and Gp4 are also substrates, and in each case GDP is one of the products. AMP, ADP, ATP, Ap2A, ADPR, GMP, GDP, GTP, NAD+, and NADP+ are not substrates. No hydrolysis of the cap dinucleotides m7Gp3Am and m7Gp3Cm was detected by HPLC. Diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase preparations were also assayed for adenylate kinase, nucleotide diphosphate kinase, NAD(P)+ pyrophosphohydrolase, phosphodiesterase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, phosphatase, and ribonuclease activities. These enzymic activities were not detectable in diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase. The symmetrical hydrolysis of Ap4A and Gp4G is an unique catalytic property that distinguishes diadenosine tetraphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase from P. polycephalum from diadenosine tetraphosphate phosphohydrolases from other organisms.