Pyridyloxobutyl adduct O6-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanine is present in 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-treated DNA and is a substrate for O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

The lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is activated to reactive metabolites that methylate or pyridyloxobutylate DNA. Previous studies demonstrated that pyridyloxobutylated DNA interferes with the repair of O6-methylguanine (O6-mG) by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). The AGT reactivity of pyridyloxobutylated DNA was attributed to (pyridyloxobutyl)guanine adducts. One potential AGT substrate adduct, 2'-deoxy-O6-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanosine (O6-pobdG), was prepared. This adduct was stable at pH 7.0 for greater than 13 days and to neutral thermal hydrolysis conditions (pH 7.0, 100 degrees C, 30 min). Under mild acid hydrolysis conditions (0.1 N HCl, 80 degrees C), O6-pobdG was depurinated to yield O6-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanine (O6-pobG). O6-pobdG was hydrolyzed to 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and guanine under strong acid hydrolysis conditions (0.8 N HCl, 80 degrees C). O6-pobG was detected in 0.1 N HCl hydrolysates of DNA alkylated with the model pyridyloxobutylating agent 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-[5-3H]pyridyl)-1-butanone ([5-3H]NNKOAc). When [5-3H]NNKOAc-treated DNA was incubated with either rat liver or recombinant human AGT, O6-pobG was removed, presumably a result of transfer of the pyridyloxobutyl group from the O6-position of guanine to AGT's active site.

Pyridyloxobutylation of guanine residues by 4-[(acetoxymethyl)nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone generates substrates of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

Pyridyloxobutylation of DNA yields adducts that react with O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyl-transferase (AGT) to prevent the repair of O6-methylguanine (O6-mG). The chemical characterization of pyridyloxobutyl adducts has been confounded by their instability under DNA hydrolysis conditions. They decompose to 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) during the chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA. The goal of these studies was to determine which bases are pyridyloxobutylated to form AGT-reactive adducts. The model pyridyloxobutylating agent, 4-[(acetoxymethyl)nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc), was reacted with either poly(dAdT) or poly(dGdC) to generate DNA substrates for reaction with AGT. Only the pyridyloxobutylated poly(dGdC) was able to prevent the ability of partially purified rat liver AGT to repair O6-mG. These results paralleled those obtained for the corresponding methylated substrates. These studies are consistent with the pyridyloxobutylation of GC base pairs and not AT base pairs in the DNA to generate a substrate for AGT. In order to distinguish between the formation of reactive adducts at C residues versus G residues, two oligomers were designed that were complementary to one another. One oligomer contained A, T, and G residues, whereas its complement contained T, A, and C residues. Only the dG-containing oligomer reacted with NNKOAc to generate an AGT-reactive adduct, again paralleling the results obtained for a methylating agent. These results demonstrate that pyridyloxobutylation of only guanine residues produces adducts that react with AGT. These AGT-reactive guanine adducts are relatively stable within DNA, with a half-life of 1-2 weeks at 37 degrees C. They represent up to 70% of the total HPB-releasing adducts in the NNKOAc-treated DNA. We postulate that a potential AGT-reactive adduct is an O6-(pyridyloxobutyl)guanine adduct.

Gastric carcinogenesis: 2-chloro-4-methylthiobutanoic acid, a novel mutagen in salted, pickled Sanma hiraki fish, or similarly treated methionine

The customary salting and pickling of fish in high risk gastric cancer regions were modeled to explore the relevant causative chemicals. The fish Sanma hiraki was treated with sodium chloride and sodium nitrite at pH 3. Previously, it had been found that an extract of the treated fish was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 without S9 and also that it induced glandular stomach cancer upon gavage to rats. We now demonstrate that the mutagenicity was enhanced by preincubation of the raw meat for several days before salt-nitrite treatment. HPLC techniques showed that three mutagens were present in the fish extract. One of the mutagens was found to be stable over the pH range of 1.0-9.0. This mutagen was purified by silica gel solid phase extraction, followed by a series of reverse phase HPLC steps, and was characterized by low and high resolution MS, NMR, and FT-IR. While N-nitroso compounds were generally believed to be associated with gastric carcinogenesis, it was unexpectedly found that the mutagen has the novel structure 2-chloro-4-methylthiobutanoic acid (CMBA). Based on the structure, it seemed likely that methionine might be the precursor, and this was, indeed, proven. Both salt and nitrite are essential factors for forming this mutagen. The yield of CMBA was linear for chloride concentrations from 0 to 800 mM NaCl. Of 20 amino acids reacted with nitrite and chloride at pH 3, only methionine generated a mutagen for S. typhimurium TA 1535. Tryptophan gave a product mutagenic in S. typhimurium TA 100 and TA 98, but not TA 1535, and in the case of tyrosine, the mutagen was active only for TA 100. These results suggest an important role for salt in gastric carcinogenesis and provide new approaches for exploring the formation of mutagens/carcinogens for specific target organs.

Synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides containing analogs of O6-methylguanine and reaction with O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

O6-Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repairs the mutagenic O6-methylguanine (O6-mG) lesion by transferring a methyl group from the 6-position of guanine to a cysteine residue on the protein. The simplest possible mechanism is an SN2 process in which the cysteine displaces the methyl group off of the guanine in a concerted reaction. To probe the interactions between the protein and guanine leaving group, oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes containing analogs of O6mG were synthesized and then reacted with AGT. The analogs, which were incorporated into deoxynucleotides include O6-methylhypoxanthine (O6-mH),S6-methyl-6-thioguanine (S6mG),S6-methyl-6-thiohypoxanthine (S6mH),Se6-methyl-6-selenoguanine (Se6mG),Se6-methyl-6-selenohypoxanthine (Se6mH), O6-methyl-1-deazaguanine (O6m1DG), O6-methyl-3-deazaguanine (O6m3DG), and O6-methyl-7-deazaguanine (O6m7DG), differ from O6mG in that the heteroatoms have been replaced so that they are poorer hydrogen bond participants and proton acceptors. AGT was reacted with oligonucleotide duplexes of the sequence 5'-GGC GCT XGA GGC GTG-3' in which X was O6mG or an analog in which X was paired with C. The reactions in 50 mM Tris-HCl and 1 mM EDTA, pH7.6 and 37 degrees C, were followed by anion-exchange HPLC in 10 mM NaOH with a NaCl gradient. All detected reactions were demethylations of the oligodeoxynucleotides except for O6m3DG, which reacted in an unknown manner.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A transcriptional inhibitor induced in human melanoma cells upon ultraviolet irradiation

Nuclear proteins from human melanoma cells exhibit strong binding activity to the UV response element (TGACAACA); however, this binding is inhibited following UV-C irradiation. In contrast, the binding of nuclear proteins from rodent fibroblasts and human keratinocytes to the UV-responsive element is initially weak and increases significantly upon UV irradiation. The addition of nuclear proteins from UV-irradiated melanoma cells to those prepared from nonirradiated cells inhibited the binding to the UV-responsive element in a concentration-dependent manner. Fast protein liquid chromatographic analysis of nuclear proteins from UV-irradiated melanoma cells revealed 12 and 14 kilodalton proteins within a fraction which also contained the inhibitory activity. The inhibitor blocks the binding of proteins to three other target sequences, AP1, CREB, and PEBP2, as well as the in vitro transcription of SV40 promoter sequences. The inhibitor was also found in UV-irradiated melanocytes, suggesting that it is tissue specific. The induction of a transcriptional inhibitor in response to UV irradiation represents a regulatory event that may play an important role in the transcriptional response of both normal and malignant melanocytes to UV irradiation.

Reaction of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase with O6-methylguanine analogues: evidence that the oxygen of O6-methylguanine is protonated by the protein to effect methyl transfer

The DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repairs the promutagenic O6-methylguanine lesion by transferring the methyl group to a cysteine residue on the protein. A mechanism in which AGT activates the guanyl moiety as a leaving group by protonation of a heteroatom on guanine was probed by reacting AGT with analogues of O6-methylguanine in which the heteroatoms were changed. The initial rates of reaction were measured at various substrate concentrations in 50 mM Hepes, 1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT, and 10% glycerol, pH 7.8 at 37 degrees C. The kinact (h-1) and Kin (mM) were determined for O6-methylguanine (1.66 +/- 0.19, 1.51 +/- 0.32), 6-methoxypurine (1.07 +/- 0.25, 10.6 +/- 4.2), S6-methyl-6-thioguanine (0.63 +/- 0.04, 1.17 +/- 0.18), 6-methylthiopurine (no reaction), Se6-methyl-6-selenoguanine (1.76 +/- 0.28, 10.6 +/- 5.0), 6-methylselenopurine (2.51 +/- 0.62, 15.7 +/- 6.3), O6-methyl-1-deazaguanine (1.71 +/- 0.34, 14.8 +/- 4.4), O6-methyl-3-deazaguanine (1.90 +/- 0.24, 2.54 +/- 0.59), and O6-methyl-7-deazaguanine (1.97 +/- 0.26, 2.56 +/- 0.72). These results indicate that replacement of the nitrogens does not affect the kinact parameter but the Kin is increased upon removal of the exocyclic amino group and the nitrogen at the 1-position. Replacement of the oxygen with sulfur decreases the kinact, and replacement with selenium increases the Kin. The results are consistent with a mechanism in which O6-methylguanine binds to the active site of AGT with hydrogen bonds to the oxygen, the exocyclic amino group, and the nitrogen at the 1-position of the substrate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of cysteine adduct formation in rat hemoglobin by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and related compounds

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) forms hemoglobin adducts in rats. Upon mild base treatment, 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) is released from this globin. HPB has been suggested as a dosimeter for exposure to and metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The purpose of this study was 2-fold: (a) to determine whether cysteine adducts of NNK were precursors to HPB, and (b) to determine to what extent cysteine adducts accounted for the material bound to globin that is not released upon mild base hydrolysis. The chemistry of cysteine adduct formation was investigated by reacting N-acetyl-L-cysteine with three model compounds for pyridyloxobutylation by metabolically activated NNK: 4-(carbethoxynitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (1); 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butylmethanesulfonate (2); and 4-iodo-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (3). Five adducts were isolated and characterized by their spectral properties and by independent syntheses: two diastereomers of N-acetyl-S-[1-methyl-3-oxo-3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]-L-cysteine (7a,b), N-acetyl-S-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butyl]-L-cysteine (9), and two diastereomers of N-acetyl-S-(2-[2-(3-pyridyl)]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuranyl)-L-cystein e (11a,b). Only 11a,b produced HPB upon mild base treatment; however, the chemistry of this adduct did not support its role as a major precursor to HPB released upon base treatment of globin. The formation of adducts in rat hemoglobin was then examined by reacting it with tritium-labeled 1 [( 5-3H]1) or tritium-labeled 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butyl p-toluenesulfonate [( 5-3H]4). The results demonstrated that the amino acids corresponding to 7a,b were present in hemoglobin reacted with [5-3H]1, accounting for 72% of the bound tritium. Amino acids corresponding to 9 were not detected in this globin. In contrast, hemoglobin reacted with [5-3H]4 contained the amino acid corresponding to 9 (15% of bound tritium), but not those corresponding to 7a,b. These results indicated that the alpha, beta-unsaturated ketone, 1-(3-pyridyl)-2-buten-1-one (5), played a major role in the hemoglobin binding of 1, but not of 4. Cysteine adducts were not detected in globin isolated from rats treated with [5-3H]NNK. The results of this study provide insights into the mechanisms of cysteine adduct formation in vitro by pryidyloxobutylating agents and indicate that these adducts are not formed in NNK-treated rats.

Solvolysis of model compounds for alpha-hydroxylation of N'-nitrosonornicotine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone: evidence for a cyclic oxonium ion intermediate in the alkylation of nucleophiles

N'-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), two potent tobacco-specific carcinogens, have been previously found to pyridyloxobutylate DNA. The adducts were found to be unstable and have not been fully characterized. In order to gain an understanding of the chemistry of the pyridyloxobutylating species, five model pyridyloxobutylating agents have been solvolyzed and the products identified. 4-[(Acetoxymethyl)-nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (3), 4-(carbethoxynitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (4), 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-1-butyl p-toluenesulfonate (16), 2-chloro-2-(3-pyridyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran (17), and 4-[(acetoxymethyl)nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (20) were solvolyzed in buffer and in buffer containing 20% MeOH. The solvolyses of 16 and 17 in H2O produced only 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (7). In the presence of 20% MeOH, 7 and 2-methoxy-2-(3-pyridyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran (12) were produced from 16 and 17 in a 4:1 ratio. The solvolysis of 3 and 4 in the presence of esterase gave similar products. 4-Methoxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (8) was not detected as a product. In the absence of MeOH, compound 7, 3-pyridyl cyclopropyl ketone (10), and 1-(3-pyridyl)-but-2-en-1-one (18) were observed. In the presence of MeOH, 12 was also formed and the ratio of 7 to 12 was again about 4:1. The esterase-catalyzed hydrolysis of 20 yielded 1-(3-pyridyl)-1,4-butanediol (22), 1-(3-pyridyl)-1,3-butanediol (27), 1-(3-pyridyl)-but-3-en-1-ol (25), 1-(3-pyridyl)but-2-en-1-ol (26), and 2-(3-pyridyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrofuran (24).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Identification of sulfate and glucuronic acid conjugates of the 5-hydroxy derivative as major metabolites of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in rats

New metabolites of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), a potent mutagen and carcinogen formed during cooking of meat or fish, have been identified and quantitated in the urine and bile of rats. Administration was either by a pulse gavage dose of 40 mg/kg [2-14C]IQ or by dietary intake of 300 ppm IQ for 6 weeks. The metabolites were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography and quantitated by radioactivity. They were then characterized by their resistance or sensitivity to hydrolytic enzymes or acid hydrolysis, by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, or coinjection with a synthetic sample. A minor metabolite was the IQ N-glucuronide. A major metabolite was formed by hydroxylation of IQ at the 5-position; it was present in urine and bile and was conjugated as the glucuronide or sulfate ester, which together accounted for about 40% of urinary or biliary metabolites. The unconjugated compound partially adsorbs onto the high-performance liquid chromatographic columns used. The amounts of 5-OH-IQ present as conjugates in urine or bile were similar, irrespective of mode of administration. Thus, hydroxylation of IQ on carbon 5 followed by type II conjugation reactions yields quantitatively important metabolic products.

Analysis for N2-(pyridyloxobutyl)deoxyguanosine adducts in DNA of tissues exposed to tritium-labeled 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine

The tobacco-specific carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are metabolically activated to DNA binding intermediates, partially via 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutanediazohydroxide (7) or related carbonium ions. Previous studies have shown that generation of 7 from 4-(carbethoxynitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (11) in the presence of deoxyguanosine yields a major adduct identified as 2'-deoxy-N-[1-methyl-3-oxo-3-(3-pyridyl)propyl]guanosine (adduct 1). These results suggested that adduct 1 should be present in DNA of tissues that can metabolically activate NNK and NNN. In the present study, we evaluate the formation of adduct 1 and its structurally related straight-chain analogue 2'-deoxy-N-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyl]guanosine (adduct 2) in DNA of tissues of rats treated with [5-3H]NNK or [5-3H]NNN, and in DNA of nasal mucosa that had been cultured in medium containing [5-3H]NNK or [5-3H]NNN. Hepatic DNA from rats treated with [5-3H]NNK was enzymatically hydrolyzed to deoxyribonucleosides and analyzed by HPLC. One of the radioactive peaks, peak E, coeluted with adduct 1. However, treatment of peak E with NaBH4 resulted in the formation of products different from those produced by NaBH4 treatment of adduct 1, demonstrating that adduct 1 could not be detected under these conditions. Hydrolysis of peak E with acid produced 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (9), suggesting that peak E might be adduct 2. Therefore, adduct 2 was synthesized by reaction of deoxyguanosine with 1-(3-pyridyl)butane-1,4-dione (5) in the presence of NaCNBH3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evidence for 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutylation of DNA in F344 rats treated with the tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine

DNA was isolated from tissues of F344 rats 24 h after treatment by s.c. injection with [5-3H]4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone ([5-3H]NNK) or [5-3H]N'-nitrosonornicotine ([5-3H]NNN). It was hydrolyzed with acid or at pH 7, 100 degrees C, and the hydrolysates were analyzed by HPLC. The major product in each case was identified as 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, formed by hydrolysis of a DNA adduct. It was detected in DNA from the livers of rats treated with [5-3H]NNK or [5-3H]NNN, and in DNA from lungs of rats treated with [5-3H]NNK. These results demonstrate that 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutylation of DNA occurs in rats treated with NNK or NNN, and are consistent with the hypothesis that these nitrosamines are metabolically activated by alpha-hydroxylation.

Approaches to the development of assays for interaction of tobacco-specific nitrosamines with haemoglobin and DNA

The tobacco-specific, nicotine-derived nitrosamines 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are among the most important carcinogens in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Treatment of Fischer 344 rats with these carcinogens resulted in alkylation of haemoglobin and DNA by the 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutyl group formed during their metabolism. This alkyl group can be detached from globin or DNA under mild hydrolytic conditions as 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, which appears to be a potentially useful dosimeter for human exposure to, and activation of, tobacco-specific nitrosamines.