Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K L Platt

Publications and source records attributed to K L Platt.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Conjugation of anti-dihydrodiol epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, benzo[c]phenanthrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene with glutathione catalyzed by cytosol and by the Mu-class glutathione transferase HTP II from rat liver.

The (+/-)-anti-dihydrodiol epoxides (DE) of benzo[a]pyrene (BP), chrysene (Chr), benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPh) and dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DBA) were incubated in the presence of glutathione (GSH) with hepatic cytosol from untreated and Aroclor 1254 pretreated rats and with the Mu-class glutathione transferase (GST) HTP II from rat liver. The diastereoisomeric GSH conjugates formed were separated, identified and quantified by HPLC employing synthetic reference compounds. All (+/-)-anti-dihydrodiol epoxides investigated in this study were proven to be substrates of the cytosolic GSTs. The highly mutagenic and carcinogenic (+)-anti-DE with R,S,S,R absolute configuration was preferentially conjugated in the case of BP and Chr. Aroclor 1254 pretreatment increased the turnover 2-3-fold and changed the enantioselectivity. The previously purified GST HTP II exhibited a high degree of enantioselectivity (> or = 95%) towards the R,S,S,R-configurated enantiomer in the case of the bay-region (+/-)-anti-BPDE, (+/-)-anti-ChrDE and (+/-)-anti-DBADE, whereas in the case of fjord-region (+/-)-anti-BcPhDE both enantiomers were good substrates. The contribution of HTP II to the enzymatic activity of the cytosolic GST pool was estimated to be in the range of 11-32%. In agreement with previous results, the observed enantioselectivity of the purified enzyme seems to be of minor significance considering the total GST pool in the liver.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Studies on pathways of ring opening of benzene in a Fenton system.

Ring-opened products of benzene metabolism have been postulated to play a role in hematotoxicity and leukemogenesis. The reaction of benzene in the Fenton system was reexamined to determine the presence of compounds which might serve as intermediates in the formation of trans, trans-muconaldehyde (MUC), a microsomal hematotoxic metabolite of benzene. Benzene dihydrodiol (DHD) was found in this system based on coelution with authentic standard, ultraviolet (UV) absorption characteristics, and molecular weight. Incubation of DHD in the Fenton system resulted in the formation of phenol (PH), catechol (CAT), and products which reacted with thiobarbituric acid to form chromogens absorbing at 495 nm and 532 nm, consistent with products containing an alpha, beta-unsaturated aldehyde group. However, muconaldehyde was not detected in the Fenton system incubated with DHD, indicating that MUC is not formed via ring opening of DHD. When benzene was incubated in the Fenton system, MUC, cis,trans-muconaldehyde, PH, hydroquinone (HQ), and CAT were identified. Identification of cis,trans-muconaldehyde, an isomer which can quickly rearrange to MUC, suggests that cis,cis-muconaldehyde is originally formed from benzene and converted to cis,trans- and then trans,trans-muconaldehyde.

Aldehydes↗

Stereoselective activation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene to (-)-anti (11R,12S,13S,14R)- and (+)-syn(11S,12R,13S,14R)-11,12-diol-13,14-epoxides which bind extensively to deoxyadenosine residues of DNA in the human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7.

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) is an environmental contaminant and a very potent carcinogen. DB[a,l]P exceeds the carcinogenic potency of both benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in rodent bioassays. Previous studies demonstrated that DB[a,l]P is metabolized to DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol-13,14-epoxide (DB[a,l]PDE) in the human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7. In the present study the major DNA adducts formed in DB[a,l]P-treated MCF-7 cells have been identified through the use of 33P-postlabeling. TLC and HPLC. DB[a,l]P is metabolically activated in MCF-7 cells to form large amounts of three major DNA adducts and smaller amounts of three other adducts. The three major DNA adducts are with deoxyadenosine: two are formed by reaction of (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE (11S,12R,13S,14R), the third by reaction of (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE (11R,12S,13S,14R). The results demonstrate that DB[a,l] is stereoselectively metabolized in MCF-7 cells to form one enantiomer of each diol epoxide diastereomer; (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE and (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE. The high extent of binding of these diol epoxides to deoxyadenosine in DNA of MCF-7 cells may help to explain the very high carcinogenic potency of DB[a,l]P and suggests that DB[a,l]P could also pose a carcinogenic threat to humans.

Benzopyrenes↗

The potent carcinogen dibenzo[a,l]pyrene is metabolically activated to fjord-region 11,12-diol 13,14-epoxides in human mammary carcinoma MCF-7 cell cultures.

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), an environmental hydrocarbon and very potent carcinogen in rodent bioassays, could be activated to DNA-binding intermediates in cells through formation of three different regioisomeric bay- or fjord-region diol-epoxides or other more highly oxidized metabolites. The mechanism of metabolic activation of DB[a,l]P in the human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7 was elucidated by analyzing the DB[a,l]P-DNA adducts formed by [35S]phosphorothioate postlabeling, immobilized boronate chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Six DB[a,l]P-DNA adducts were detected. Comparison with those formed in cells by DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol and by reaction of DNA with syn- and anti-(benzylic hydroxyl and epoxide oxygen cis and trans, respectively) DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol-13,14-epoxide (DB[a,l]PDE) demonstrated that all DB[a,l]P-DNA adducts in MCF-7 cells were formed by these diol-epoxide isomers. Cellular DNA contained large amounts of two syn- and one anti-DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts and small amounts of one syn- and two anti-DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adducts. The ability of human cells to activate DB-[a,l]P to its fjord-region 11,12-diol 13,14-epoxides suggests that environmental exposure to DB[a,l]P could pose a risk for humans.

Benzopyrenes↗

Different enzyme kinetics during the glutathione conjugation of the four stereoisomers of the fjord-region diolepoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene by the mu-class rat liver glutathione S-transferase HTP II.

The enzyme-catalysed conjugation of each of the four stereoisomers of trans-3,4-dihydroxy-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (B[c]PhDE) with glutathione (GSH) by HTP II, a novel isolated mu-class GSH transferase from the liver of untreated rat, was studied. All four stereoisomers were substrates for GSH transferase HTP II. The enzymatic reaction shows three different types of enzyme kinetics: substrate inhibition for (-)-anti-B[c]PhDE with (R,S,S,R)-absolute configuration, allosteric behavior using (+)-anti-B[c]PhDE with (S,R,R,S)-absolute configuration and Henri-Michaelis-Menten kinetics with both the (-)-syn- and (+)-syn-enantiomers, with (S,R,S,R)- and (R,S,R,S)-absolute configuration, respectively. When the concentration of these diolepoxides was varied (using 2 mM GSH), the apparent Vmax values were 1975 nmol/min x mg for (-)-anti-B[c]PhDE and about 60 nmol/min x mg for both (-)-syn- and (+)-syn-B[c]PhDE, with the corresponding Km values of 1.05 and 0.20 mM. The reaction of (+)-anti-B[c]PhDE determined by applying the Hill equation had an estimated Vmax value of 930 nmol/min x mg. On varying the concentration of GSH, linear Lineweaver-Burk plots were obtained. No competitive effect could be observed using a mixture of (-)-anti- and (+)-anti-enantiomers, indicating that their binding sites are different and independent. It was also shown, that the binding sites of (+)-anti- and both syn-enantiomers were different and independent of each other, while there was a small effect on the binding of the syn-enantiomers caused by (-)-anti-B[c]PhDE. All products of the reaction between GSH and the dihydrodiol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene could be resolved by HPLC and were identified and quantitated using the corresponding synthetic GSH conjugates.

Animals↗

Regiospecific reduction of polycyclic aromatic quinones by rabbit liver dihydrodiol dehydrogenases.

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DDH) isoenzymes were purified from rabbit liver (Klein et al., Eur. J. Biochem., 205 (1992) 1155), and the major forms CF-1, CF-5 and CM-2 were tested for their substrate specificity with dihydrodiol and quinone metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CF-5, which was shown to correspond to aldehyde reductase in rabbit liver, was found to efficiently oxidize aromatic dihydrodiol metabolites (phenanthrene-1,2-dihydrodiol, benz[a]anthracene-3,4-dihydrodiol) while CF-1, corresponding to carbonyl reductase, and CM-2 were much less active. All three enzyme forms were found to reduce polycyclic K-region o-quinones of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene and benzo[a]pyrene. CF-1 was the least active, and CM-2 was the most active form with reaction velocities of > 10 mumol/min.mg protein. Among a range of synthetic quinones tested, benz[a]anthracene-8,9-quinone and benzo[a]pyrene 9,10-quinone were also good substrates for the three enzymes, as well as p-benzoquinone and naphthalene-1,4-quinone. The reduction of polycyclic o-quinones, but not of p-benzoquinone, by enzyme CM-2 was accompanied by the oxidation of large amounts of NADPH and the consumption of molecular oxygen which is indicative of a redox-cycling process. Thus, the formation of catechol metabolites from dihydrodiols and o-quinones may be catalyzed by the same enzymes in rabbit liver, and the reaction rate of the enzymatic reduction is strongly dependent on the structural type of the polycyclic quinone.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Morphological transformation and DNA adduct formation by dibenz[a,h]anthracene and its metabolites in C3H10T1/2CL8 cells.

The major routes of metabolic activation of dibenz[a,h]-anthracene (DBA) have been studied in transformable C3H10T1/2CL8 (C3H10T1/2) mouse embryo fibroblasts in culture. The morphological transforming activities of three potential intermediates formed by metabolism of DBA by C3H10T1/2 cells, trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-DBA-(DBA-3,4-diol), trans-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-DBA-anti-1,2-oxide (DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide) and DBA-5,6-oxide were determined. DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide was a strong morphological transforming agent giving a mean of 73% dishes with Type II or III foci and 1.63 Type II and III foci per dish at 0.5 microgram/ml. DBA-3,4-diol produced a mean of 42% dishes with Type II or III foci and 0.81 Type II and III foci per dish at 2.5 micrograms/ml. DBA gave a mean of 24% dishes with Type II or III foci and 0.29 Type II and III foci per dish at 2.5 micrograms/ml. DBA-5,6-oxide was found to be inactive. DNA adducts of DBA, DBA-3,4-diol, DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide, DBA-1,4/2,3-tetrol and DBA-5,6-oxide in C3H10T1/2 cells were analyzed by 32P-postlabeling method. DBA gave 11 adducts, nine of which were observed in the DNA of cells treated with DBA-3,4-diol and seven from cells treated with DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide. Two of these adducts that appear in each of the treatment groups have been identified as the product of the interaction of DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide with 2'-deoxyguanosine. Furthermore, there is evidence for DBA-DNA adducts in cells treated with DBA, DBA-3,4-diol and DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide arising from metabolism to (+,-)-trans,trans-3,4,10,11-tetrahydroxy-3,4,10,11-tetrahydro-DBA (DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol). These results are based on co-migration of C3H10T1/2 DNA adducts with skin DNA adducts formed after topical treatment of mice with DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol. In C3H10T1/2 cells, DBA is metabolically activated through DBA-3,4-diol, which is further activated via the DBA-3,4-diol-1,2-oxide and DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol pathways. No evidence is provided for the metabolism of DBA by the K-region pathway.

Animals↗

Synthesis and mutagenicity of the diastereomeric fjord-region 11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.

Extensive tumorigenicity studies in rodents revealed that dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) is the most potent carcinogen among all polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) tested so far. The structure of the genotoxic metabolite(s) responsible for this exceptional carcinogenicity is unknown. The fjord-region syn- and anti-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol 13,14-epoxides (syn- and anti-DB[a,l]PDE) were synthesized to clarify their role as possible ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolites of DB[a,l]P.9-Formyl-11,12-dimethoxybenzo[g] chrysene was prepared from 9-phenanthrylacetic acid by a photochemical route. After reaction of the aldehyde with trimethylsulfonium iodide to generate an oxiranyl side-chain, treatment with boron trifluoride produced the key intermediate 11,12-dimethoxy-DB[a,l]P in 14% overall yield. From 11,12-dimethoxy-DB[a,l]P the syn- and anti-DB[a,l]PDE were stereoselectively prepared via the trans-11,12-dihydrodiol. The mutagenicity of the syn- and anti-DB[a,l]PDE was examined in four his- strains of Salmonella typhimurium and in Chinese hamster V79 cells. In all five test systems, the new dihydrodiolepoxides were more potent than any of the previously investigated dihydrodiolepoxides. The specific mutagenicity observed with anti-DB[a,l]PDE in strain TA104 exhibited the highest value ever found with any compound in any his- strains of S.typhimurium. The same appears to be true for the activity observed with this compound in V79 cells. In all five systems, syn-DB[a,l]PDE was only moderately less active than its anti-diastereomer (approximately 2-fold). The exceptional mutagenic activities of these dihydrodiolepoxides may be one of the reasons for the exceptional carcinogenic activity of DB[a,l]P.

Animals↗

Evidence for the involvement of a bis-diol-epoxide in the metabolic activation of dibenz[a,h]anthracene to DNA-binding species in mouse skin.

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DB[a,h]A) and its microsomal metabolites, trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxydibenz[a,h]anthracene (DBA-3,4-diol), trans,trans-3,4:8,9-tetrahydro-3,4:8,9-tetrahydroxydibenz[a,h]anth racene, trans,trans-3,4:10,11-tetrahydro-3,4:10,11-tetrahydroxydibenz[a,h] - anthracene (DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol) and trans,trans-3,4:12,13-tetrahydro-3,4:12,13- tetrahydroxydibenz[a,h]anthracene were each applied topically to mouse skin and the epidermal DNA isolated 24 h later. 32P-postlabeling analysis of each of the DNA samples was performed. DNA from mice treated with DB[a,h]A produced an adduct map on TLC consisting of one major and three minor adduct spots. A similar pattern of spots was produced by DBA-3,4-diol. No detectable DNA adducts were produced by trans,trans-3,4:12,13-tetrahydro-3,4:12,13-tetrahydroxy- dibenz[a,h]anthracene, although a single, minor adduct spot was produced by trans,trans-3,4:8,9-tetrahydro-3,4:8,9-tetrahydroxydibenz[a,h]- anthracene. However, DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol was found to produce a major single adduct that comigrated on thin layer chromatography with the major adduct produced by both DB[a,h]A and DBA-3,4-diol. In addition, this adduct was present at a level 10 times higher than the corresponding adduct produced by treatment with the parent hydrocarbon. Coelution of the major adducts formed from DB[a,h]A and DBA-3,4-diol with that formed from DBA-3,4,10,11-bis-diol was also demonstrated on reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Thus, we propose that, in mouse skin, the major pathway of DB[a,h]A activation to DNA binding products is via a 3,4-diol to the 3,4,10,11-bis-diol and ultimately to a bis-diol-epoxide (potentially the 3,4,10,11-bis-dihydrodiol-1,2-oxide).

Animals↗

Characterization of DNA adducts at the bay region of dibenz[a,h]anthracene formed in vitro.

Bay region diolepoxide-DNA adducts of dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DBA) formed in vitro were identified and their absolute stereochemistry was assigned. After activation of [5,12-14C]DBA with liver microsomes obtained from Aroclor 1254 treated male Sprague-Dawley rats in the presence of calf thymus DNA for 1 h, the amount of DNA adducts was found to be 9.9 +/- 2.4 pmol/mg DNA, calculated on the basis of the portion of radioactivity eluted from the HPLC reversed-phase column with a water/acetonitrile gradient. Bay region diolepoxide-DNA adducts represented 27.5% of radioactivity associated with DNA adducts. The absolute configuration of the various adducts was determined from the reaction of the (+)- and (-)-3,4-dihydrodiol after metabolic activation and the reaction of the anti- and syn-3,4-dihydroxy-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrodibenz[a,h]anthracen e with DNA or with the individual deoxyribonucleotides. The main bay region adduct was identified as a deoxyguanosine adduct of (anti)-3S,4R-dihydroxy-1R,2S-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrodibenz [a,h]anthracene, a metabolite of (-)-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrodi- benz[a,h]anthracene. Anti bay region diolepoxide-deoxyguanosine adducts of DBA contributed to 17.7% and syn diolepoxide-derived deoxyguanosine adducts to 5.8% of adduct-associated radioactivity. The amount of bay region deoxyadenosine adducts was calculated to be 4%. For six of probably eight different deoxyadenosine adducts absolute stereochemistry could be assigned. 32P-Postlabelling experiments revealed a binding of 23 +/- 6 pmol/mg DNA for (-)-3,4-dihydrodiol and of 1.5 +/- 0.4 pmol/mg DNA for (+)-3,4-dihydrodiol of DBA.

Animals↗

Characterization of highly polar bis-dihydrodiol epoxide--DNA adducts formed after metabolic activation of dibenz[a,h]anthracene.

Dibenz[a,h]anthracene as well as a biologically important metabolite of dibenz[a,h]anthracene, namely the M-region dihydrodiol trans-3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrodibenz[a,h]anthracene were in addition to further metabolism to a bay region diol epoxide, extensively transformed to a distal bisdihydrodiol, 3,4,10,11-tetrahydroxy-3,4,10,11-tetrahydro-dibenz[a,h]anthracene, which exhibited after renewed metabolic activation high DNA binding efficiency, leading to a new class of very polar DNA adducts. After incubation of dibenz[a,h]anthracene with DNA in the presence of liver microsomes from Aroclor 1254 treated male Sprague-Dawley rats highly polar DNA adducts probably originating from 3R,4R,10R,11R-tetrahydroxy-3,4,10,11-tetrahydrodibenz[a,h]an thracene and 3R,4R,10S,11S-tetrahydroxy-3,4,10,11-tetrahydrodibenz[a,h]anthr ace ne were identified by reversed phase HPLC and by the 32P-postlabeling method. The adducts obtained were further characterized by comparing their fluorescence spectra with those obtained from 3,4,10,11-tetrahydroxy- 3,4,10,11-tetrahydrodibenz[a,h]anthracene and from 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrodibenz[a]anthracene, the putative chromophore of the polar adduct. DNA adducts formed via 3S,4S,10S,11S-tetrahydroxy-3,4,10,11-tetrahydro- dibenz[a,h]anthracene were not found. After incubation of 14C-labelled dibenz[a,h]anthracene highly polar DNA adducts derived from the bisdihydrodiol contributed 38% to the adducts found in the HPLC profile. Bay region diol epoxide adducts represented a fraction of 25%. Using the 32P-postlabelling technique a higher DNA binding yield for the racemic bisdihydrodiol (38 +/- 12 pmol/mg DNA) was calculated than for the most active 3,4-dihydrodiol enantiomer, 3R,4R-dihydroxy-3,4- dihydrodibenz[a,h]anthracene (23 +/- 6 pmol/mg DNA).

Animals↗

Separation of 32P-labelled nucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphate adducts by HPLC.

Relatively few reported attempts have been made to substitute HPLC for the thin-layer ion-exchange chromatography (TLC) conventionally used in the 32P-postlabelling assay. Using a reverse-phase phenyl-modified silica gel column and a gradient of methanol in 0.5 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 2.0), we were able to improve the resolution of very similar adducts. Combined with on-line detection of Cerenkov radiation, this method allows separation of sub-femtomole quantities of 32P-labelled nucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphates modified by bulky carcinogens. Using this method, we were able to separate nine of the ten major adducts formed by reaction of the diol-epoxides of ten polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with DNA, and resolve different adducts formed by a single carcinogen. The major adducts formed by benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF) or dibenz[a,h]anthracene in mouse skin in vivo have been shown to be distinct from the adducts formed directly by the bay-region diol-epoxides. The heterocyclic amines IQ and MeIQ have each been shown to form one major DNA adduct in several in vitro and in vivo systems; using HPLC we were able to resolve the two adducts formed by these food mutagens. HPLC is especially useful for the identification of adducts by means of chromatographic comparisons and in the analysis of the multiple adducts formed by complex mixtures of environmental carcinogens. The major adducts formed by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and BbF in mouse skin in vivo that were not resolved on TLC were well separated by HPLC and thus a major DNA adduct formed in the skin of mice treated topically with coal tar was found to be derived from BaP rather than BbF.

Animals↗

Improved sample preparation for the testosterone hydroxylation assay using disposable extraction columns.

The preparation of samples for injection into a high-performance liquid chromatograph from assay mixtures for the determination of cytochrome P-450-dependent testosterone hydroxylation has been substantially facilitated. By replacing the multiple cumbersome extraction steps of the conventional method with a single column extraction the time for sample preparation was reduced from hours to minutes. The new procedure also yields better recoveries for most of the testosterone metabolites than the original protocol. The use of extraction columns for sample preparation allows the simultaneous treatment of a large number of samples or even the automation of the whole assay procedure. The modified procedure is a straightforward, easy-to-perform method that should greatly facilitate the implementation of the testosterone hydroxylation assay for sharply discriminating between many individual cytochrome P-450 species in routine enzyme diagnostics.

Chromatography↗

Characterization of cryopreserved rat liver parenchymal cells by metabolism of diagnostic substrates and activities of related enzymes.

The metabolism of testosterone and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) which is mediated by diverse enzymes was determined in cryopreserved rat liver parenchymal cells and compared with that found in freshly isolated cells. In addition, the activities of single xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes were measured by using specific substrates. The cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated total metabolic conversion of testosterone was reduced to 55% in cryopreserved cells. The metabolite profile, i.e. the formation of single metabolites compared with total metabolic conversion, was however unchanged when compared with freshly isolated cells. A concomitant reduction in the activities of the involved P450 isoenzymes can therefore be postulated. The amount of detected phase I-metabolites of BaP was unaffected by the cryopreservation method. The formation of phase II-metabolites and total metabolic conversion of BaP in cryopreserved cells was however reduced to about 50-60%. The reduced glutathione S-transferase and more obviously phenol sulfotransferase activities measured in cryopreserved cells, may explain the impaired conjugation of BaP. The ratio between phase I- and phase II-metabolites was thus changed by cryopreservation. Density separation on Percoll yielded cryopreserved cells with a viability and metabolic capacity not measurably different from freshly isolated cells. To this extent, cryopreserved, Percoll-purified liver parenchymal cells are a useful in vitro system for drug metabolism studies. However due to the extensive loss in cell number during this procedure (recovery = 22% of freshly isolated cells) the application of this system is limited.

Animals↗

Quinone reduction and redox cycling catalysed by purified rat liver dihydrodiol/3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

A highly active preparation of rat liver dihydrodiol/3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase was obtained using a newly developed, rapid purification scheme involving affinity chromatography on Red Sepharose. Depending on the coenzyme present, the purified enzyme was found to catalyse the oxidation of dihydrodiols and steroids or the reduction of substrates with carbonyl or quinone moieties. Using a wide range of synthetic quinones derived from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we observed a pronounced regioselectivity of the quinone reductase activity. Good substrates were the o-quinones of phenanthrene, benz(a)anthracene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene with the quinonoid moiety in the K-region which were reduced at rates of 1-10 mumol/min.mg enzyme. 1,4-Benzoquinone, naphthalene-1,2-quinone and benz(a)anthracene-8,9-quinone were also reduced at high rates. In contrast, alkyl-substituted quinones such as duroquinone and menadione were poor substrates for the enzyme. During the enzymatic reduction of several o-quinones, but not 1,4-benzoquinone, we observed the oxidation of large amounts of NADPH and the consumption of molecular oxygen which is indicative of a redox-cycling process. Thus, the reduction of quinones of PAHs may lead to a facilitated conjugation and excretion of these highly lipophilic compounds, but may also initiate toxic processes due to the formation of reactive oxygen species.

Animals↗

Molecular and cellular basis for adequate metabolic design of genotoxicity studies.

Genotoxic species and metabolites are usually under the control of a complex set of activating, inactivating and precursor sequestering enzymes. These enzymes differ greatly between test systems, animal species and man. An adequate metabolic design of genotoxicity studies requires careful attention to factors such as: Dilution of cofactors in in vitro tests which are present in much higher concentrations in the intact cell; Induction in high dose carcinogenicity bioassays of enzymes, which are constitutively not expressed and not induced at such doses of the compound, which occur in the situations of the practical use of the compound; Modifications of control enzymes, which are effected by hormones or other endogenous factors, which are differently influenced by high dose (bioassay) versus moderate dose (real exposure) or by in vivo (endocrine regulation) versus in vitro (no endocrine regulation) conditions.

Animals↗

The in vitro metabolic activation of dibenz[a,h]anthracene, catalyzed by by rat liver microsomes and examined by 32P-postlabelling.

DNA has been incubated in vitro with dibenz[a,h]anthracene (DB[a,H]A) and the related 5,6-diol and 3,4-diol in the presence of 3-methylcholanthrene- or Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver microsomes. After incubation, the DNA was extracted and examined for the presence of aromatic adducts using the nuclease P1 modification of the 32P-postlabelling technique. The maps of PEI-cellulose plates and autoradiography showed that 92% of the radioactivity contained in DB[a,h]A-DNA adduct spots is derived from the related 3,4-diol and that about 50% of the adducts may be formed following the conversion of this diol to the bay-region anti- and syn-3,4-diol 1,2-oxides.

Animals↗