Objective: Analysis of nucleotides for diagnosing inborn errors of metabolism. Transport studies of purine ribosides into erythrocytes. Material and Methods: Erythrocytes were incubated with purine ribosides. Ribosides were transported through erythrocyte membrane and converted into ribotides. Nucleotides were separated and identified by capillary electrophoretic method using background electrolyte 40 mmol/L citric acid – 0.8 mmol/L cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-γ-aminobutyric acid, pH 4.4. Results: We found accumulated deoxynucleotides and nucleotides in erythrocyte extracts, which mimics metabolic situation of enzyme defects of purine metabolism. Under optimal electrophoretic conditions all compounds of interest were separated. Conclusion: The method can be successfully used to analyze intracellular nucleotides and diagnose inherited disorders of nucleotide metabolism.

        Key words: capillary electrophoresis, membrane transport, metabolism, erythrocyte, purine disorders.