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Hemoglobin binding of monocyclic aromatic amines: molecular dosimetry and quantitative structure activity relationships for the N-oxidation.

Aromatic amines are important intermediates in industrial manufacturing. N-oxidation to the N-hydroxyarylamines is a key step determining the genotoxic properties of aromatic amines. N-hydroxyarylamines can form adducts with DNA, with tissue proteins and with the blood proteins albumin and hemoglobin in a dose-dependent manner. The determination of hemoglobin adducts is a useful tool for biomonitoring exposed populations. We have established the hemoglobin binding index (HBI) [(mmol compound/mol Hb)/(mmol compound/kg body wt)] of several aromatic amines in female Wistar rats. Including the values obtained by other researchers in the same rat strain, the logarithm of hemoglobin binding (log HBI) was plotted against the following parameters: the sum of the Hammett constants (sigma sigma = sigma p + sigma m), pKa, log P (octanol/water), the half wave oxidation potential (E1/2) and the electronic descriptors of the amines and their corresponding nitrenium ions obtained by semiempirical calculations (MNDO, AM1 and PM3), such as atomic charge densities, energies of the HOMO and LUMO and their coefficients, the C-N bond order, the dipole moments and the 'reaction enthalpy' [MNDOHF, AM1HF or PM3HF = Hf(nitrenium) - Hf(amine)]. The correlation coefficients were determined from the plots of all parameters against log HBI for all amines by means of linear regression analysis. The amines were classified into three groups: group 1, all para-substituted amines, group 2, all amines with halogens and group 3, all amines with alkyl groups. For the amines of group 1, log HBI correlates with sigma sigma, MNDOHF, E1/2, the pKa and the log P with r = 0.84, 0.71, 0.73, - 0.69 and 0.50, respectively. For the amines of group 2, log HBI correlates with pKa, sigma sigma, MNDOHF, E1/2 and log P with r = 0.81, -0.76, -0.55, -0.46 and -0.20, respectively. For the amines of group 3, log HBI correlates with the E1/2, PM3HF, sigma sigma, pKa and log P with r = 0.92, 0.89, 0.76, 0.19 and 0.12, respectively. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constants Km and Vmax of the N-acetyltransferase of liver cytosol were determined for several amines. Km and Vmax do not correlate with any of the electronic descriptors. Female Wistar rats were dosed with nitroarenes. Hemoglobin binding of nitroarenes correlates with the energy levels of the LUMO. This investigation determines for a large variety of aromatic amines the bioavailability of the N-hydroxyarylamine--the genotoxic metabolite--and the utility of electronic descriptors for prediction of the N-oxidation.

Acetyltransferases↗

The interaction of amines with the occluded state of the Na,K-pump.

We have studied the effect of various amines on the rate of release of 86Rb from the occluded state of dog kidney Na,K-ATPase formed by pre-incubation of the enzyme with 86Rb. In the presence of MgPi, various amines act like K+ or Rb+ in blocking the release of 86Rb from one of two sites for occlusion (the "s" site). Of 38 amines tested, tetrapropylamine and various benzyl amines exhibit the highest affinity; the K1/2 for these compounds is 2-5 mM. In the presence of ATP, when 86Rb is presumably released towards the intracellular face of the pump in the normal mode of operation, 86Rb release is blocked by the presence of amine, but only if the amine is also included in a preincubation with MgPi. The data are consistent with a model in which the interaction of amine with one of the transport sites (the "f" site) prevents the E2----E1 transformation that is stimulated by ATP. When 86Rb deocclusion from the f site has occurred in the presence of amine, the lone 86Rb at the s site can be released in the presence of ATP if the amine is removed from the medium. This suggests that a single 86Rb ion at the s site can be released to the intracellular face of the membrane, and therefore that transport can occur with only one K+ site occupied. The amine that blocks release of one 86Rb ion does not itself become occluded: (a) The interaction of amine and ATP is only seen when both ligands are present in the medium; (b) the effects of amines are not "remembered" after a brief exposure to a rinse medium; (c) with the vanadate-inhibited enzyme, benzyltriethylamine and tetrapropylamine are only weakly effective in blocking 86Rb release from the s site; and (d) organic cations exhibit very low affinity in competition with 86Rb for occlusion at equilibrium. Thus the results are consistent with the idea that monofunctional amines block by binding to the f site but that, unlike K+ and Rb+, they do not become occluded. In contrast, at equilibrium ethylenediamine prevents 86Rb occlusion in a competitive manner, suggesting the possibility of occlusion of the bifunctional amine.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The mysterious trace amines: protean neuromodulators of synaptic transmission in mammalian brain.

The trace amines are a structurally related group of amines and their isomers synthesized in mammalian brain and peripheral nervous tissues. They are closely associated metabolically with the dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin neurotransmitter systems in mammalian brain. Like dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin the trace amines have been implicated in a vast array of human disorders of affect and cognition. The trace amines are unique as they are present in trace concentrations, exhibit high rates of metabolism and are distributed heterogeneously in mammalian brain. While some are synthesized in their parent amine neurotransmitter systems, there is also evidence to suggest other trace amines may comprise their own independent neurotransmitter systems. A substantial body of evidence suggests that the trace amines may play very significant roles in the coordination of biogenic amine-based synaptic physiology. At high concentrations, they have well-characterized presynaptic "amphetamine-like" effects on catecholamine and indolamine release, reuptake and biosynthesis; at lower concentrations, they possess postsynaptic modulatory effects that potentiate the activity of other neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine and serotonin. The trace amines also possess electrophysiological effects that are in opposition to these neurotransmitters, indicating to some researchers the existence of receptors specific for the trace amines. While binding sites or receptors for a few of the trace amines have been advanced, the absence of cloned receptor protein has impeded significant development of their detailed mechanistic roles in the coordination of catecholamine and indolamine synaptic physiology. The recent discovery and characterization of a family of mammalian G protein-coupled receptors responsive to trace amines such as beta-phenylethylamine, tyramine, and octopamine, including socially ingested psychotropic drugs such as amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and lysergic acid diethylamide, have revitalized the field of scientific studies investigating trace amine synaptic physiology, and its association with major human disorders of affect and cognition.

Amines↗

Amine promoted, metal enhanced degradation of Mirex under high temperature conditions.

In this study, zero-valent metal dehalogenation of mirex was conducted with amine solvents at high temperatures. Mirex was treated with excess amine in sealed glass tube reactors under nitrogen. The amines used were n-butyl amine (l), ethyl amine (l), dimethyl amine (g), diethyl amine (l), triethyl amine (l), trimethyl amine (g) and ammonia (g). The metals used were copper, zinc, magnesium, aluminum and calcium. The most suitable amine solvent and metal were selected by running a series of reactions with different amines and different zero-valent metals, in order to optimize the conditions under which complete degradation of mirex takes place. These dehalogenation reactions illustrated the role of zero-valent metals as reductants, whereas the amine solvents acted as proton donors. In this study, we report that mirex was completely degraded with diethyl amine (l) in the presence of copper at 100 degrees C and the hydrogenated products accounted for more than 94 of the degraded mirex.

Amines↗

Differential inhibition of six copper amine oxidases by a family of 4-(aryloxy)-2-butynamines: evidence for a new mode of inactivation.

A series of compounds derived from a previously identified substrate analogue of copper amine oxidases (CuAOs) (Shepard et al. (2002) Eur. J. Biochem. 269, 3645-3658) has been screened against six different CuAOs with a view to designing potent and selective inhibitors. The substrate analogues investigated were 4-(1-naphthyloxy)-2-butyn-1-amine, 4-(2-methylphenoxy)-2-butyn-1-amine, 4-(3-methylphenoxy)-2-butyn-1-amine, 4-(4-methylphenoxy)-2-butyn-1-amine, and 4-phenoxy-2-butyn-1-amine. These compounds were screened against equine plasma amine oxidase (EPAO), Pisum sativum amine oxidase (PSAO), Pichia pastoris lysyl oxidase (PPLO), bovine plasma amine oxidase (BPAO), human kidney diamine oxidase (KDAO), and Arthrobacter globiformis amine oxidase (AGAO) to examine the effect of different substituent groups on potency. Despite the similar structures of the 4-aryloxy analogues evaluated, striking differences in potency were observed. In addition, crystal structures of AGAO derivitized with 4-(2-naphthyloxy)-2-butyn-1-amine and 4-(4-methylphenoxy)-2-butyn-1-amine were obtained at a resolution of 1.7 A. The structures reveal a novel and unprecedented reaction mechanism involving covalent attachment of the alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde turnover product to the amino group of the reduced 2,4,5-trihydroxyphenylalanine quinone (TPQ) cofactor. Collectively, the structural and inhibition results support the feasibility of designing selective mechanism-based inhibitors of copper amine oxidases.

Allylamine↗

Role of soil manganese in the oxidation of aromatic amines.

Soil-induced oxidation and subsequent polymerization of aromatic amines is an important pathway for reducing the mobility of amines in soils and their hazard potential in the environment. This study assesses the hypothesis that manganese(III/IV) oxides/hydroxides play a significant role in the oxidation of aromatic amines in whole soils. Aromatic amines including alpha-naphthylamine, p-methoxyaniline, and aniline were allowed to react in aqueous whole soil suspensions for 5 d. Irreversible binding and/or transformation of amines were estimated using a rigorous extraction method and extractable transformation products were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization mass spectrometry. The Mn speciation shifts in the soil residue after amine-soil reactions were measured using a successive fractionation method and in-situ using X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. A fraction of each of the three amines became irreversibly sorbed, and a large polymer formation was observed for alpha-naphthylamine and p-methoxyaniline. The increase in the irreversibly sorbed/transformed amine fraction over time was concomitant with the reduction of Mn(III/IV) to Mn(II), although oxidation by Mn(III/IV) was not sufficient to account for all amine irreversibly lost. Oxidation by soil Mn did contribute to immobilizing amines within organic matter and to the formation of large aromatic amine polymers, which serves to reduce mobility and bioavailability of aromatic amines in the natural environment.

Adsorption↗

Amine oxidases in apoptosis and cancer.

Amine oxidases, the major enzymes of biogenic amines metabolism, are considered to be biological regulators, especially for cell growth and differentiation. A primary involvement of amine oxidases in cancer growth inhibition and progression, especially by means of aldehydes, H(2)O(2) and other reactive oxygen species, the amine oxidase-mediated products of biogenic amines oxidation, has been demonstrated. Amine oxidases are involved in cancer growth inhibition because of the higher content in tumour cells of biogenic amines in comparison to normal cells. The cytotoxic effect can be explained by a damage to cell membranes and/or nuclei or, indirectly, through modulation of membrane permeability transition and therefore apoptosis. The oxidation products of biogenic amines appears to be also carcinogenic, while acrolein, produced from the oxidation of spermine and spermidine, should be a key compound both carcinogenic and cytotoxic. The cancer inhibition/promotion effect of amine oxidases could be explained by taking into consideration the full pattern of the enzyme content of the cell. The balance of amine oxidases and antioxidant enzymes appear to be a crucial point for cancer inhibition or progression. A long lasting imbalance of these enzymes appears to be carcinogenic, while, for a short time, amine oxidases are cytotoxic for cancer cells.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

Biodegradation of pentyl amine and aniline from petrochemical wastewater.

The objectives of the project were to isolate a bacterial strain capable of degrading pentyl amine and aniline and to define the optimal pentyl amine and aniline degradation conditions for this bacterial strain. The bacterial strain was isolated from activated sludge obtained from a Northeastern China treatment facility for petrochemical wastewater rich in pentyl amine and aniline. Once the strain was isolated, five triplicate (5) batch tests were used to establish the conditions for maximum pentyl amine and aniline degradation, by varying one at a time the following five factors: temperature, pH, reaction time, pollutant concentrations and aeration rate. In a final test, oil refinery sludge was inoculated with the strain and tested for the degradation of pentyl amine and aniline under optimal conditions, while observing the degradation pathway of pentyl amine and aniline. The isolated strain, PN1001, is a member of the Pseudomonas species and it was capable of degrading pentyl amine and aniline. The optimal reactor conditions for the degradation of a mixture of pentyl amine and aniline, at a concentration ranging between 150 and 200mg/L, were found to be 30 degrees C at a pH of 7.0, under a reaction time of 24h and a maximum solution dissolved oxygen level of 6 mgO(2)/L. Under such conditions, the strain PN1001 degraded 93% and 89% of the pentyl amine and aniline, respectively, aniline being more toxic and demonstrating a more complex degradation pathway. The strain PN1001 degraded more contaminants when both were present because of the pi and sigma electron cloud coordination functions of aniline and pentyl amine, respectively, presumed to reduce the toxic effect of aniline. Once inoculated with the strain, oil refinery sludge degraded 93% and 88% of the pentyl amine and aniline, compared to the strain alone which degraded 72% and 82%, likely because of the sludge's buffering effect against the toxic environment.

Amines↗

[Present and future cancer risk assessment of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in humans].

Heterocyclic amines are formed during high temperature cooking of foods such as meat and fish. Although heterocyclic amines are known mutagens and some of them are shown to be carcinogenic to experimental animals, the carcinogenic potential of heterocyclic amines in humans has yet to be established. The most important criteria in determining the relationship between heterocyclic amines and human cancers are the strength and consistency of the association, the presence of a dose-response relationship, and the biological plausibility of heterocyclic amines being human carcinogens. To date, there are too few data to evaluate the strength, consistency, and dose response of this relationship in humans. To investigate cancer risk posed by heterocyclic amines to humans, an accurate estimation of exposure is needed. Validated methods for exposure assessment of heterocyclic amines are not available. At present, without any available long-term biomarkers of heterocyclic amines, it is crucial to improve exposure assessment. Most studies concerning the cancer risk assessment of heterocyclic amines are based on the exposure levels calculated only by information on the consumption of cooked foods and the mean levels of heterocyclic amines in cooked foods. Inaccurate exposure assessment can lead to incorrect cancer risk. This review describes the present and future problems of the exposure assessment and cancer risk assessment of heterocyclic amines.

Amines↗

Species- and gender-related differences in amine, alcohol and phenol sulphoconjugations.

1. Species-, gender- and strain-related differences in amine sulphoconjugations were studied in 105,000 g supernatants of liver samples isolated from mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, dog, monkey and man and were compared with those of alcoholic and phenolic compounds. Substrates examined were desipramine (an alkylamine), piperazine and piperidine derivatives (alicyclic amines), aniline (an arylamine), tiaramide and dehydroepiandrosterone (alcoholic compounds) and 2-naphthol (a phenolic compound). 2. Sulphoconjugating activities of alicyclic and aryl-amines and tiaramide varied depending on the animal species, sex and strain used. In all animal species examined, the activity for desipramine was low or negligible but for 2-naphthol was consistently detected and high. Amine sulphoconjugations were higher in rabbit than in other animal species. Dog hepatic 105,000g supernatants exhibited low or neglible activities for amines and tiaramide. Females showed higher sulphoconjugating activities for all substrates in mouse and for amines and tiaramide in rat; males exhibited higher activities for 2-naphthol in rat and monkey and for amines in rabbit; there were no clear sex-related differences in other sulphoconjugations. 3. Among BALB/c, C57BL/6, DBA/2, and AKR mouse strains, the AKR strain showed higher activities towards amines and tiaramide than others. 4. In human liver 105,000g supernatants, sulphoconjugating activities for alicyclic amines, dehydroepiandrosterone, and 2-naphthol were detected. Among them, higher activities were observed in piperazine and phenol sulphoconjugations. There were no sex-related differences in the activities of all substrates examined. Good correlations were observed in activities between alicyclic amine and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphoconjugations. 5. These results indicate that activities of amine and alcohol sulphoconjugations vary considerably depending on the substrate, species, sex and strain but phenol sulphoconjugation is consistently detected in all species examined.

Adolescent↗

The molecular mechanism of nondegranulative release of biogenic amines.

According to current teaching biogenic amines are released by exocytosis, i.e. by evacuation of amine storing vesicles or granules into the extracellular space. The release of transmitter amines is quantal, i.e. occurs in packs of transmitter molecules. These packs are assumed to be identical with vesicle contents, in other words, the smallest releasable quantum equals the amine content of one vesicle. However, there are experimental observations which do not fit in with this version of an exocytotic release theory. Observed quantitative discrepancies could be explained if the release mechanism allowed a fractional release of transmitter amine from several vesicles instead of the total evacuation of a few. The lack of adequate knowledge about the mechanisms of storage of biogenic amines within the vesicles has up til now rendered it difficult to envisage the machinery behind a fractional release of the amine content of a vesicle. In extensive in-vitro studies we have found that the matrices of amine storing granules (i.e. from mast cells, chromaffin cells and nerve terminals) show the properties of weak cation exchanger materials, carboxyl groups serving as amine binding ionic sites. When exposed to cations like sodium and potassium ions, the amines are released from their storage sites according to kinetics characteristic of weak cation exchangers. In vivo, amine release from cat adrenals on splanchnic nerve stimulation also occurs according to ion exchange kinetics. Histamine release from mast cells is considered to occur as the result of degranulation, i.e. the expulsion of histamine storing granules to the extracellular space, a typical example of exocytosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Glands↗

Biogenic amines as regulators of the proliferative activity of normal and neoplastic intestinal epithelial cells (review).

The role of extracellular amines such as noradrenaline and serotonin and their interaction with cyclic nucleotides and intracellular polyamines in the regulation of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation is reviewed with particular reference to the differences between normal and neoplastic cells. In respect to the normal epithelium of the small intestine there is a strong case to support the notion that cell proliferation is controlled by, amongst other things, sympathetic nerves. In colonic carcinomas, antagonists for certain serotonin receptors, for histamine H2 receptors and for dopamine D2 receptors inhibit both cell division and tumour growth. Because of the reproducible variations between tumour lines in the response to these antagonists, this inhibition appears to be due to a direct effect on the tumour cells rather than an indirect effect via the tumour host or stroma. This conclusion is supported by the cytocidal effects of toxic congeners of serotonin on the tumour cells. The most salient difference between the amine responses of normal and neoplastic cells relates to the issue of amine uptake. Proliferation of crypt cells is promoted by amine uptake inhibitors, presumably because they block amine re-uptake by the amine secreting cells--sympathetic neurones and enteroendocrine cells. However, tumour cell proliferation is strongly inhibited by amine uptake inhibitors, suggesting that neoplastic cells can, and need to take up the amine before being stimulated by it. Recent revelations in the field of oncogenes also support an important association between amines, cyclic nucleotides and cell division. The ras oncogenes code for a protein that is a member of a family of molecules which relay information from extracellular regulators, such as biogenic amines, to the intracellular regulators, including cyclic nucleotides. Evidence is presented suggesting that enteroendocrine cells, enterocytes, carcinoid tumour cells and adenocarcinoma cells all have the same embryonic origin and that cells exhibiting an admixture of endocrine and proliferative properties exist in colonic tumours, but not in the normal intestinal epithelium. Thus, it appears that in the normal intestine a clear structural and functional distinction exists between the regulating cells (i.e. the sympathetic neurones and enteroendocrine cells) and the regulated cells (i.e. the undifferentiated crypt cells): cells that have acquired a regulating role are no longer able to divide and cells which are able to divide do not take up or store amines.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Amine Accumulation in Acidic Vacuoles Protects the Halotolerant Alga Dunaliella salina Against Alkaline Stress.

Amines at alkaline pH induce in cells of the halotolerant alga Dunaliella a transient stress that is manifested by a drop in ATP and an increase of cytoplasmic pH. As much as 300 millimolar NH(4) (+) are taken up by the cells at pH 9. The uptake is not associated with gross changes in volume and is accompanied by K(+) efflux. Most of the amine is not metabolized, and can be released by external acidification. Recovery of the cells from the amine-induced stress occurs within 30 to 60 minutes and is accompanied by massive swelling of vacuoles and by release of the fluorescent dye atebrin from these vacuoles, suggesting that amines are compartmentalized into acidic vacuoles. The time course of ammonia uptake into Dunaliella cells is biphasic-a rapid influx, associated with cytoplasmic alkalinization, followed by a temperature-dependent slow uptake phase, which is correlated with recovery of cellular ATP and cytoplasmic pH. The dependence of amine uptake on external pH indicates that it diffuses into the cells in the free amine form. Studies with lysed cell preparations, in which vacuoles become exposed but retain their capacity to accumulate amines, indicate that the permeability of the vacuolar membrane to amines is much higher than that of the plasma membrane. The results can be retionalized by assuming that the initial amine accumulation, which leads to rapid vacuolar alkalinization, activates metabolic reactions that further increase the capacity of the vacuoles to sequester most of the amine from the cytoplasm. The results indicate that acidic vacuoles in Dunaliella serve as a high-capacity buffering system for amines, and as a safeguard against cytoplasmic alkalinization and uncoupling of photosynthesis.

Journal Article↗

Distributed amine modulation of graded chemical transmission in the pyloric network of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion.

1. In the pyloric network of the lobster stomatogastric ganglion, graded synapses organize the network output. The amines dopamine (DA), serotonin, and octopamine each elicit a distinctive motor pattern from a quiescent pyloric network. We have examined the effects of these amines on the graded synaptic strengths between the six major types of neurons of this network to understand how amine modulation of synaptic strength contributes to the amine-induced motor patterns. Here we tested amine affects at 10 different graded chemical synapses of the pyloric network. We show that each amine has a statistically different spectrum of distributed effects across the network synapses. 2. Under our control conditions (isolated pairs of neurons, removal of modulatory input), most of the graded chemical synapses were weak and some synapses were nonfunctional. The output synapses of the ventricular dilator (VD) neuron were significantly stronger than the other synapses. 3. DA altered the synaptic strength of every graded chemical synapse. This amine strengthened the weak chemical output synapses of the anterior burster (AB), lateral pyloric (LP), and pyloric constrictor (PY) neurons and weakened (and in some cases abolished) the strong chemical output synapses of the VD neuron. The AB-->inferior cardiac neuron (IC) and PY-->IC graded chemical synapses were nonfunctional under our control conditions; DA activated these silent synapses. 4. Serotonin enhanced the AB's output chemical synapses but weakened all the other graded chemical synapses examined. Octopamine's effects were much weaker than those of the other two amines. It enhanced the AB-->LP synapse and the LP's output synapses and weakly strengthened the AB-->PY, VD-->LP, and VD-->PY synapses. 5. The amines alter the input resistance of many of the pyloric neurons, and this could contribute to the observed changes in synaptic strength by altering passive current flow between input and output sites in the cells. However, the input resistance changes were relatively small compared with the changes in synaptic strength and cannot alone account for the synaptic modulation. In some cases the sign of the input resistance change was inconsistent with the change in synaptic strength. Thus the amines appear to modify synaptic transmission directly in this system. 6. This study completes our description of amine effects on all the graded synapses of the pyloric network. We summarize our present and earlier work to show that modulators can reconfigure the entire synaptic organization of a neural network by acting at many distributed synaptic sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗

Primary aromatic amines from side-stream cigarette smoke are common contaminants of indoor air.

A very sensitive mass-spectrometry method has been developed for the analysis of aromatic amines in tobacco smoke and in indoor air. Cigarettes were smoked with a smoking machine; the amines from the smoke were trapped in a 5% HCl water solution containing internal standards and detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in the selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. The amines measured were the following: aniline, 2-toluidine, 3-toluidine, 4-toluidine, 2-ethylaniline, 3-ethylaniline, 4-ethylaniline, 2,3-dimethylaniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline, 2,5-dimethylaniline, 2,6-dimethylaniline, 1-naphthylamine, 2-naphthylamine, 2-methyl-1-naphthylamine, 2-aminobiphenyl, 3-aminobiphenyl and 4-aminobiphenyl. We analyzed nine brands of cigarettes sold commercially in Italy (Gauloise, Nazionali, Marlboro, Camel, MS, MS mild and MS lights), with and without filter. Main-stream smoke contained a lower amount of aromatic amines than side-stream smoke: the total level of these amines in main-stream smoke ranged from 200 to 1300 ng/cigarette, whereas the level of aromatic amines in side-stream smoke varied from 20,000 to 30,000 ng/cigarette. The smoke of black-tobacco cigarettes had higher levels of aromatic amines compared to light-tobacco cigarettes and the filters significantly reduced aromatic amines in main-stream smoke. We also determined the levels of aromatic amines in ambient air, offices and houses. Some aromatic amines (aniline and toluidine) were detected in ambient air, as well as in rooms of non-smokers. Most measurements showed a considerable contamination of aromatic amines derived from side-stream smoke, which was detected also in parts of the buildings in which smoking was not allowed.

Air Pollution, Indoor↗

Novel cation-exchange column for the separation of hydrophobic and/or polyvalent amines.

The term amines encompasses a wide variety of compounds: monovalent or polyvalent amines, hydrophobic or hydrophilic amines, and combinations of all of these. Due to their charge, polyvalent amines such as the biogenic amines have very strong cation-exchange interaction with the cation-exchange groups in the stationary phase. Very high acid concentrations are required to elute them effectively from a high-capacity, carboxylated cation-exchange column. The eluent must contain a divalent ion to elute them from a sulfonated cation-exchange column due to its selectivity. Chromatography for these amines with a new "tailored" amine column of moderate capacity using a simple acidic eluent is described. The hydrophobic nature of other amines, such as long-carbon-chained amines, results in partitioning into the polymeric substrate of previous carboxylated stationary phases, so that organic solvent is required to elute them effectively. The substrate resin of this new "tailored" amine column is first coated so that, when it is functionalized in a subsequent step, this type of interaction is minimized. Examples are given. Methods that require eluent gradients and/or step changes of eluent concentration are especially well suited to this column because the background conductivity remains almost unchanged under gradient conditions.

Alkylation↗

Effects of long-chain fatty amines on the growth of ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells.

A number of aliphatic primary amines were tested for their effects on the growth of ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (PAP2 cells), as measured by incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. Long-chain, saturated amines (C12 to C18) were growth inhibitory, whereas short-chain amines (C6, C8) were not. Farnesylamine, a branched-chain, unsaturated amine (C15), had an IC50 of 6.9 microM compared to IC50 values of 13.1 to 45.8 microM for straight-chain, saturated amines. Oleylamine, with an IC50 of 0.1 microM, was the most potent inhibitor. The long-chain amines, but not the short-chain amines, were also effective inhibitors of protein kinase C, assayed in vitro in a cell-free system. In addition, studies with indo-1-loaded PAP2 cells showed that long-chain amines induced a reversible rise in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Growth inhibition by the amines was positively correlated with this effect, suggesting that factors other than protein kinase C may be involved in the inhibition of growth of PAP2 cells by long-chain amines.

3T3 Cells↗

Suitability of DTAF as a fluorescent labelling reagent for direct analysis of primary and secondary amines--spectral and chemical reactivity considerations.

DTAF has been used successfully to prepare fluorescent labelled reagents for fluorescence polarization immunoassays. Its applicability as a derivation reagent for direct fluorescence analysis of primary and secondary amines was evaluated. DTAF was shown to have spectral properties that closely resemble those of fluorescein and that are apparently insensitive to the presence of the triazine nucleus. Spectrally determined pKa values also closely resemble those of fluorescein and other amino aryl-s-triazines. DTAF is prone to hydrolytic degradation with the rate of reaction increasing with increasing pH, until a pH value is reached at which ionization of the amine bridging the two aromatic nuclei occurs; at this pH the rate reaches a plateau value. Both primary and secondary amines react efficiently with DTAF, and the reactivity increases with the increasing basicity of the amine reactants. The reaction is pH-dependent, proceeding most efficiently at pH values at which both the "bridging amine" of DTAF and the amine substrate are unionized. Methyl substituted secondary amines were consistently more reactive than the corresponding primary amine, but further imposition of steric bulk about the amine nitrogen significantly reduced the reactivity of amines toward DTAF. In cases where such steric bulk is minimal. DTAF appears to be a suitable fluorescent labelling reagent for direct analytical applications.

Amines↗