Ribosidation of 4-Hydroxy(3, 4-d)pyrazolopyrimidine by Erwinia carotovora

Abstract

Bacterial production of 4-hydroxy(3, 4-d)pyrazolopyrimidine riboside (AP-R) was studied. Seven among 73 tested strains were found to produce AP-R through N-ribosyl transfer reaction between uridine and 4-hydroxy(3, 4-d)pyrazolopyrimidine (allopurinol). AP-R was produced by the cell-free extract of Erwinia carotovora and was isolated in crystals from the reaction mixture. The crystalline AP-R was characterized by spectroscopic data and was confirmed to be β-1-ribosyl allopurinol. AP-R could not substitute for inosine to support the growth of a nonexacting purine base-requiring mutant of Sarcina lutea.