Rat liver contains a novel nucleotide, Ypp5'A2'p, related to adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate.

A novel nucleotide, Ypp5'A2'p, has been purified through perchloric acid extraction of rat liver followed by DEAE-cellulose and ion pair high pressure liquid chromatographies. Y stands for an unknown compound, probably a nucleoside, whose sugar moiety is different to beta-D (deoxy) ribose. Treatment of Ypp5'A2'p with snake venom phosphodiesterase renders Yp and adenosine 2',5'-bisphosphate (pAp). After elimination of the terminal phosphate with alkaline phosphatase, the resulting nucleotide (Ypp5'A) yielded Yp and 5'-AMP when hydrolyzed by the phosphodiesterase. The following ultraviolet absorption spectral characteristics were determined at pH 7: Ypp5'A2'p (lambda max = 265 nm; A250/A260 = 0.76; A280/A260 = 0.79); Yp (lambda max = 279 nm; A250/A260 = 0.70; A280/A260 = 1.70). The molar extinction coefficient found for Yp at 280 nm was 20.6 x 10(3) M-1 cm-1.