Metabolism of adenine nucleotides by ectoenzymes of vascular endothelial and smooth-muscle cells in culture.

1. Pig aortic endothelial and smooth-muscle cells in culture rapidly catabolize exogenous ATP, ADP or AMP. 2. In both cell types catabolism is due to Mg2+-stimulated ectoenzymes. 3. Inhibition and substrate-specificity studies suggest that both cell types possess three distinct ectonucleotidases, namely nucleoside triphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.15), nucleoside diphosphatase (EC 3.6.1.6) and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5), as well as nucleoside diphosphate kinase (EC 2.7.4.6). 4. These ectonucleotidase systems could be of importance in the regulation of neurotransmission, blood platelet function and vasodilation.