Biosynthesis of a novel form of vitamin B-6 by tumor cells

Studies on the time-course utilization of radiolabeled pyridoxine in hepatoma-bearing rats led to the discovery of a novel vitamin B-6 product. It is present in a spectrum of tumor lines, but it is absent or occurs minimally in normal tissues. Hepatomas incorporate up to 20-30% of labeled pyridoxine into the novel species. Its structure was tentatively identified as adenosine-N6-methyl, propylthioether-N-pyridoximine-5'-phosphate. In the present study, 3B3 mouse-human hybridoma cells were incubated with radiolabeled precursor molecules, perchloric acid cell extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and radioactivity in effluent fractions was measured. The results show that [G-3H]pyridoxine, [2,8-3H]adenosine, L-[35S]cysteine and L-[U-14C]serine are incorporated into the novel tumor product. These findings are interpreted to indicate that the correct structure of the novel product is adenosine-N6-diethylthioether-N'-pyridoximine-5'-phosphate. Further, these data demonstrate that tumor cells have evolved novel enzymatic steps for metabolism of vitamin B-6. The potential use of the novel metabolite as a marker for tumor genesis and establishment is especially significant, as the compound is peculiar to the neoplastic state.