Enzymatic synthesis of unlabeled and beta-(32)P-labeled beta-L-2', 3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate as a potent inhibitor of adenylyl cyclases and its use as reversible binding ligand.

beta-L-2',3'-Dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (beta-L-2', 3'-dd-5'-ATP) was prepared enzymatically from the corresponding monophosphate by the use of adenylate kinase, creatine phosphate, and creatine kinase in a single step. The beta-(32)P-labeled analog was prepared similarly, but in a two step reaction. beta-L-2', 3'-dd-5'-ATP inhibited adenylyl cyclase from rat brain competitively with respect to substrate (5'-ATP.Mn(2+)) and exhibited an IC(50) approximately 24 nM. The labeled ligand was used in the development of a reversible binding assay for adenylyl cyclases. Binding of beta-L-2',3'-dd-[beta-(32)P]5'-ATP was saturable with increasing concentrations of ligand and increased in proportion to membrane protein, and was enhanced by Mn(2+) to a greater extent than by Mg(2+). Binding was displaced with adenine nucleotides known to be either competitive or noncompetitive inhibitors but not by agents known not to act on the cyclase, or by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, creatine phosphate, or creatine kinase. Binding was rapid, with a half-time for the on-rate <1.8 min and for the off-rate <0.8 min. The potency and mechanism of the inhibition of this ligand and the pattern of agents that displace binding suggest an interaction with adenylyl cyclase per se and to a configuration of the enzyme consistent with an interaction at the catalytic active site. The data suggest that this is a pretransition state inhibitor and contrasts with the equipotent 2',5'-dd-3'ATP, a post-transition state noncompetitive inhibitor.