Cellular phosphorylation of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-monophosphate, a key intermediate in the activation of the antiviral agent DDI, in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

2',3'-dideoxyadenosine 5-monophosphate (ddAMP), is a key intermediate in the metabolism of the antiviral agent 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) to its active triphosphate derivative, 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (ddATP). The potential role of adenylate kinase in the phosphorylation of ddAMP was studied in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a human T cell line, CEMss. Subcellular distribution, sulfhydryl inhibitor, and substrate specificity studies support the hypothesis that the mitochondrial adenylate kinase (AK2) is a major route of cellular activation of these compounds in human lymphocytes.