Inhibition of ovarian SAH-hydrolase in Pyrrhocoris apterus, sterilized with ( S)-9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)adenine

Abstract

The antiviral nucleoside analogue ( S)-9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)adenine [( S)-DHPA] causes female sterility in certain insects. This has been associated with an inhibition of S- adenosyl- l-homocysteine hydrolase in the ovaries. The ovarian SAH-hydrolase, isolated by affinity chromatography, is inhibited by ( S)-DHPA and some other open-chain analogues of adenosine. The most pronounced in vitro inhibition of the ovarian SAH-hydrolase has been achieved with d-eritadenine, which is also the most potent chemosterilant. The ovaries of the treated females contain a sufficient quantity of ( S)-DHPA for inhibition of all intraovarian enzyme. The methylation index declined in the ovaries of the treated females from 5.35 (normal females) to 0.95. Unlike vertebrates or plants, insect tissues show a rather unique capacity for rapid phosphorylation of ( S)-DHPA to the corresponding 3′-phosphate.