Characterization of ecto-nucleoside triphosphatase on A-431 human epidermoidal carcinoma cells

Hydrolysis of extracellular ATP and other nucleoside phosphates by A-431 human epidermoidal carcinoma cells was studied. The hydrolysis of extracellular ATP by these cells required either Mg2+ or Ca2+, and either cation could be replaced by Co2+, Fe2+, or Mn2+. Nucleoside triphosphates (ATP, GTP, CTP, UTP, and dTTP), but not nucleoside diphosphates, were hydrolyzed by the cells with Km and Vmax values similar to those for ATP (0.9-1.1 mmol/l and 6-10 nmol Pi formed/10(6) cells, respectively). The hydrolysis of ATP was inhibited strongly by ATP-gamma S and AMPPNP, and weakly by AMPCPP and ADP-beta S, but not by AMPCPP or AMPCP. Since the hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP was inhibited by all these nucleoside triphosphates, the binding site for ATP is presumed to be the same as that for the other nucleoside triphosphates. All these results indicate that ecto-ATPase activity associated with A-431 cells is due to ecto-nucleoside triphosphatase. The nucleotide specificity shown in the present study indicates that ecto-nucleoside triphosphatase associated with A-431 cells is a molecule different from P2-purinergic receptors which can be stimulated specifically with nucleoside phosphates like ATP, ADP, UTP, UDP, and GTP, but not by other nucleotides.