8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate inhibits the growth of Chinese hamster ovary and molt-4 cells through its adenosine metabolite

8-Chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate has been reported to inhibit growth of various mammalian cell lines at micromolar concentrations. We have used Chinese hamster ovary cell lines with mutated cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase or altered cyclic nucleotide metabolism to show that a metabolite, 8-chloroadenosine, is formed in the medium and is the active inhibitor of cell growth in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Adding adenosine deaminase to the Chinese hamster ovary cell growth media removes the inhibition of cell growth attributed to 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Adenosine deaminase or dipyridamole also protects Molt-4 lymphoblasts from the growth-inhibitory effects of 8-chloroadenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.