Deoxynucleoside 5-monophosphate N-glycosidase from a phylogenetically distant metazoa, sponge

Deoxynucleoside 5-monophosphate N-glycosidase or DNPH1 (former name Rcl) is a nucleotide hydrolase whose expression in mammalian cancer tissues has been associated with its tumorigenic potential. Therefore, the enzyme has been studied principally in rat and human models. We found the corresponding gene also in the freshwater sponge Ephydatia muelleri, an animal phylogenetically very distant from mammals. Here we report the expression and characterization of the recombinant DNPH1 from E. muelleri. The ancient homolog of mammalian enzyme in a sponge showed the substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency similar to that in higher animals. E. muelleri DNPH1 is inhibited by the purine nucleotides with different numbers of 5'-phosphate groups (n = 1-4). Our results demonstrate that GTP but also dGTP are the best inhibitors, followed by all other purine nucleotides that were tested. Hence, the functioning of DNPH1 in cells where the natural ATP and GTP concentrations are much higher than those of the substrates, dNMPs, should normally be downregulated. We demonstrate for the first time the existence of biologically relevant natural inhibitors of DNPH1, namely ATP and GTP.