Inhibition of phosphatase by open-chain nucleoside analogues in insects.

(S)-9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) adenine (DHPA), D-eritadenine and some other open-chain nucleoside analogues, which exhibit adverse biological effects in microorganisms, plants and animals, cause pronounced inhibition of intestinal phosphatases in the hemipteran insect Pyrrhocoris apterus. The rate of p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolysis by homogenates from intestinal epithelium and Malpighian tubules was inhibited up to 94% by 2-10 millimolar concentrations of these drugs. This effect is stronger than that of sodium fluoride, which is recognized as a common inhibitor of phosphatase. We conclude that inhibition of phosphatase activity in the digestive and excretory organs may be responsible for the previously reported massive excretion of phosphorylated derivatives of the nucleoside analogues after their oral administration to insects.