Analytical DNA flow cytometric analysis of deoxyadenosine toxicity in cultured human leukemic lymphoblasts

Human T leukemic lymphocytes are highly susceptible to growth inhibition by dAdo. We have investigated this phenomenon using analytical DNA flow cytometry. By using (a) bromodeoxyuridine quenching of Hoechst 33342 fluorescence and (b) the drug ICRF-159, a selective G2 - M-blocking agent, we show that dAdo causes a G1 block in cultured T leukemic cells and that cells in the S phase exposed to dAdo are able to complete that S phase, pass through G2 + M, and return to the G1 phase. Centrifugal elutriation was used to enrich cells for various phases of the cell cycles. dAdo caused elevation of the dATP pool to a similar extent in G1, S, and G2 - M-enriched cell fractions, but did not cause a fall in the dCTP pool. These findings indicate that dAdo induces a G1 block via elevation of dATP pools, apparently independently of inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase.