Comparative orientation of the fluorene residue in native DNA modified by N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene and two 7-halogeno derivatives

Mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis: recent advances

The carcinogenetic risk assessment of veterinary drugs has to be envisaged as part of food toxicology. The authors review the recent discoveries which have proved significant for the toxicologist. Tumours arise from an inherited transformation of normal cells through genotoxic, perigenetic and epigenetic processes. Genotoxic mechanisms are best understood and have led to the development of short-term reference tests. The biochemistry of DNA alterations is being unravelled and permits quantitative estimation of carcinogenetic potencies. Work on the role of oncogenes is providing new clues to the understanding the mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis. Perigenetic processes deal mainly with DNA repair systems and emphasize the complexity of human genome dynamics. Experimental findings about epigenetic mechanisms are still inconclusive as to their practical implications. Abnormal expression of HLA-antigens at the surface of neoplastic cells has been reported, but its significance is still unknown. In conclusion, the main source of progress in toxicology undoubtedly comes from molecular biology, but experimental results must be interpreted with caution if practical issues are to be derived from them.

Effects of adduct formation on the biological activity of single- and double-stranded øX174 DNA, modified by N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene

In order to establish a good quantitative relationship between the number of acetylaminofluorene adducts and the extent of inactivation of DNA, single-stranded (ss) øX174 DNA and øX174 RF DNA were modified to various extents with 3H-labelled N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-AcO-AAF) and subsequently transfected to Escherichia coli spheroplasts having different repair capabilities. Exponential survival curves were obtained. In the case of ssDNA about one adduct per molecule appears to be lethal. On the other hand only 1 out of 10.2 adducts is found to inactivate RF DNA if tested on wild-type E. coli. However, when assayed on strains deficient in excision repair 1 out of 2.3 adducts leads to inactivation of RF DNA. RecA-dependent postreplication repair only has little influence on these figures. Product analysis of the modified DNAs shows that in RF DNA at least 76% of the interaction products is N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (dGuo-C8-AAF) and at least 6% and at most 12% is 3-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (dGuo-N2-AAF). In ssDNA only dGuo-C8-AAF is formed. No apurinic sites could be detected in the modified DNAs. From these results it can be concluded that in RF DNA most of the dGuo-C8-AAF is removed by excision repair. The remaining damage, consisting probably both of dGuo-N2-AAF and unexcised dGuo-C8-AAF, inactivates RF DNA. Inactivation can be explained by a model which shows that only damage in the minus strand of RF DNA inhibits replication and/or transcription.

13C-NMR studies of the effects of the carcinogen acetylaminofluorene on the conformation of dinucleoside monophosphate

13C-NMR spectra are obtained in aqueous solution of dinucleoside monophosphates (ApG and GpA) and of their adducts formed by the addition of the carcinogen acetylaminofluorene (AAF) to the C8 position of the guanine. The base and sugar carbons of all dimers and adducts are assigned. The task of assigning base and carbohydrate resonances was accomplished using a series of reference compounds. Significant changes in many of the carbon resonances of the adducts are observed suggesting three general conformational changes, namely: (1) chemical shift changes are noted in base carbon atom resonances as a function of temperature and adduct formation which are indicative of stacking effects; (2) large upfield shifts of the furanose C2' resonance of the guanosine-adduct indicate a shift to higher populations of the syn conformation. Other shifts of carbohydrate resonances are indicative of a change in conformation of the carbohydrate itself. (3) Large temperature effects on linewidth of several fluorine and furanose resonances indicate interconversion of various conformers in the dimer adduct.

Structural features of nitroaromatics that determine mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium

Seventeen structurally homologous nitroaromatics were tested for direct-acting mutagenic potency in nine strains of Salmonella typhimurium. The following four structural features were determined to have a strong influence on mutagenic activity: physical dimensions of the aromatic rings, isomeric position of the nitro group, conformation of the nitro group with respect to the plane of the aromatic rings, and ability to resonance-stabilize the ultimate electrophile. Progressive addition of five- and six-membered rings to a nitrobenzene nucleus demonstrated that mutagenic activity was a direct function of size. Fluoranthene was of optimal size (four rings) for mutagenicity; an additional benzene ring, giving benzo[k]fluoranthene, reduced mutagenic activity. Nitroaromatics with a nitro group oriented along the long axis of symmetry of the molecule were more potent mutagens than those with the nitro group oriented along the short axis. These results are discussed in light of the insertion-denaturation model for intercalation of certain DNA adducts. Nitroaromatics with nitro groups sterically forced out of the plane of the aromatic rings were weakly mutagenic or nonmutagenic. Nitro groups located between two peri hydrogens or in a bay-region are examples of this conformation. Finally, structural features that contribute to resonance stabilization of the reactive nitrenium ion enhance mutagenic potency. Thus, 6-nitroindene was at least tenfold more mutagenic than 5-nitroindene. These positional isomers are structurally identical with the exception of the position of an olefinic bond in the adjacent five-membered ring which can contribute to resonance stabilization of a carbonium ion formed after bioactivation of 6-nitroindene but not of 5-nitroindene. The predictive value of these structure-activity relationships should permit a first approximation in the assessment of mutagenic potency of nitroaromatics.

Enzymatic methylation of DNA and poly(dG-dC) X poly(dG-dC) modified by 4-acetoxyaminoquinoline-1-oxide, the ultimate carcinogen of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide

Both the initial velocity and the overall methylation of Ac-4HAQO modified DNA by a calf brain DNA (cytosine-5-)-methyltransferase are increased as compared to native DNA. The affinity of the modified DNA for the enzyme decreases as a function of the extent of the modification. Heat-denatured, single-stranded DNA shows exactly the opposite results: the more it is modified, the less it is methylated. The poly(dG-dC) X poly(dG-dC) modified by 4NQO is as well methylated as the non-modified one. The carcinogen may induce a tertiary structure favouring the 'walking' of the enzyme along the DNA. The hypermethylation caused by this carcinogen could have a significance in gene activity and cellular differentiation.

An internal fluorene model for iodo-N-2-acetylaminofluorene modified DNA

Minimized conformational potential energy calculations have been performed for the 7-iodo (AAIF) and 7-fluoro (AAFF) derivatives of N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), linked covalently to guanine C-8 in dCpdG. Both the iodo and the fluoro derivatives are carcinogenic and mutagenic. The lowest energy forms on the dinucleoside monophosphate level have syn guanine and fluorene-cytidine stacking. However, the iodo adduct cannot adopt this conformation in larger polymers, according to earlier experimental studies (Fuchs et al., Biochemistry, 15 (1976) 3347) and model building, because of iodine's large Van der Waal's radius. Therefore, a model consistent with all the experimental evidence, incorporating the second lowest energy conformation in B form duplex (dCdG)3 was constructed. In this model the modified guanine is syn, yet still stacked with the adjacent cytidine in one direction, the fluorene is located primarily at the helix interior between the base pairing sites, rupturing two base pairs, and the iodine atom and its adjoining ring protrude to the helix exterior.

Different levels of induction of RecA protein in E. coli (PQ 10) after treatment with two related carcinogens

By means of an immunoradiometric assay the induction of protein RecA in E. coli PQ 10 was measured after treatment by two related carcinogens. On an adduct basis N-Acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene was shown to induce the protein RecA at a similar level as U.V. On the other hand, N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene shows only a poor induction capacity of the RecA protein. The difference in the SOS inducing potential of the aminofluorene and acetylaminofluorene adducts is discussed in relation to the major difference in the local conformational change the two adducts induce in DNA.

Mutagenicity and genotoxicity of nitroarenes. All nitro-containing chemicals were not created equal

The nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons constitute a group of chemicals of environmental concern which display a broad spectrum of mutagenic, genotoxic and carcinogenic properties. Some members of the group are the most potent direct-acting bacterial mutagens while others exhibit low levels of potencies which require metabolic activation mixtures. Bacterial mutagenicity is dependent upon reduction of the nitro function. In mammalian cell systems the genetic and genotoxic effects of these nitrated chemicals include the induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis, sister-chromatid exchanges, chromosomal aberrations, gene mutations and cell transformation. The qualitative as well as quantitative expression of these effects is dependent upon the species and tissue of origin as well as culture history of the cell which in turn determine their enzymic capabilities and the conversion of these nitroarenes to ultimate mutagens and genotoxicants. In eukaryotic cells the following bioactivation pathways have been recognized: (a) reduction of the nitro moiety, (b) ring oxidation (the nature of which is influenced by the nitro function) followed by reduction of the nitro group, and (c) ring oxidation without concomitant reduction of the nitro moiety.

Repair and mutagenesis of plasmid DNA modified by ultraviolet irradiation or N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene

Plasmid DNA was modified in vitro to various extents with N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene or UV irradiation. The modified plasmid DNAs were then used to transform Escherichia coli strains having different repair capabilities. Both survival and mutagenesis frequencies of the plasmid were measured as a function of the number of lesions per plasmid molecule. The majority of N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) adducts, like thymine dimers, were repaired by the excision (uvrA+-dependent) pathway. In rec+ strains, dose-dependent mutagenesis occurred in either AAF- or UV-modified plasmid DNA. This is in contrast with results obtained in recA- strains, in which only AAF adducts gave rise to a lower, but dose-dependent, mutagenesis frequency. In these recA- strains there was no UV mutagenesis. Unlike what is observed with phages, induction of the "SOS" functions by UV irradiation of the bacteria prior to transformation did not increase the survival or the mutagenesis of the plasmid.

Conformation of the deoxydinucleoside monophosphate dCpdG modified at carbon 8 of guanine with 2-(acetylamino)fluorene

Minimized conformational potential energy calculations were performed for dCpdG modified with the carcinogen 2-(acetylamino)fluorene (AAF). The major adduct, linked via a covalent bond between guanine C-8 and N-2 of AAF, was investigated. The 12 variable torsion angles and both deoxyribose puckers were independent flexible parameters in the energy minimizations. Three categories of low-energy conformers were calculated in which the guanine was syn and nearly perpendicular to the plane of the fluorene: (1) forms in which fluorene is stacked with cytidine (included among these is the global minimum energy conformation); (2) conformers which preserve guanine-cytidine stacking while placing the fluorene in a base-pair obstructing position; (3) conformers which maintain guanine-cytidine stacking and place the fluorene at the helix exterior, without interfering with base pairing. The Z form is important in this group. In addition, a low-energy conformation with guanine anti, but still nearly perpendicular to fluorene, was computed. Molecular models were constructed for the most important conformations incorporated into larger polymers. These indicated that the fluorene-cytidine stacked forms induce a severe kink in the B helix. Conformers with guanine-cytidine stacking and AAF in a base-pair obstructing position place the AAF at the B-type helix interior with little distortion in the helix direction. Conformers with the guanine-cytidine stack in which AAF does not affect base pairing place the fluorene at the Z or alternate helix exterior. It is suggested that base sequence, extent of modification, and external conditions such as salt concentration determine which of a number of possible conformational effects is actually induced by AAF. The variety of observed experimental results with AAF-modified DNA may reflect there various conformational possibilities.

Nitrated fluorene derivatives are potent frameshift mutagens

Nitrated derivatives if fluorene are potent frameshift-type mutagens. A reduction of the nitro function is required for the expression of mutagenicity. Hydroxylamines are the presumed key intermediates, which following esterification to electrophiles are capable of forming adducts with cellular DNA. Evidence in support of this mechanism is obtained by the use of tester strains having a functional uvrB gene product or lacking specific nitroreductases. The mutagenic potency of nitrated fluorenes increases upon successive addition of nitro groups reaching a peak at the trisubstituted state. Addition of a 4th nitro group leads to decreased activity.

Mechanism of inhibition of enzymatic deoxyribonucleic acid methylation by 2-(acetylamino)fluorene bound to deoxyribonucleic acid

Binding of 2-(acetylamino)fluorene (AAF) to C-8 of guanine induces a local destabilization of the DNA helix. A relationship was observed where the degree of DNA modification by AAF was inversely proportional to its methyl acceptor capacity from S-adenosyl-L-methionine in the presence of rat brain DNA cytosine 5-methyltransferase. Moreover, substituted DNA (DNA-AAF) behaves as a methylation inhibitor of native DNA. This inhibition is of the mixed type. The substituted DNAs have higher affinities for the enzyme than native DNA. The inhibition is irreversible. Addition of DNA-AAF to the enzyme preincubated with native DNA inhibits methylation, but only after a lag period. This agrees with the model in which the methylase "walks" along the strand to methylate cytosine residues before being detached from the DNA. AAF bound to guanine residues may block the movement of the enzyme along the helix. Single-stranded DNA has an affinity for the methylase 1.6 times lower than that of native double-stranded DNA. On the other hand, single-stranded DNA-AAF is more methylated than double-stranded DNA-AAF. A tentative model taking into account these observations is presented under Discussion. The in vitro hypomethylation of DNA-AAF could explain the in vivo observations made by several authors.

Searches for ultimate chemical carcinogens and their reactions with cellular macromolecules

Studies on a variety of chemical carcinogens have demonstrated that their ultimate reactive and carcinogenic forms are strong electrophiles. Some carcinogens, such as alkylating agents, are in their ultimate forms as administered, but most require metabolism to these active derivatives. The ultimate carcinogens react, usually non-enzymatically, with nucleophilic constituents in vivo. Of particular interest in regard to their possible importance in carcinogenesis have been the covalent interactions of these electrophilic reactants with cellular informational macromolecules, the DNAs, RNAs, and proteins. Current data are consistent with the idea that the initiation step of chemical carcinogenesis is a mutagenic event and is caused by alteration of DNA by the ultimate carcinogens. The nature of the carcinogen metabolite(s) involved in the promotion phase has not been determined, but there appears to be no requirement that they be electrophilic. The development of the concept of ultimate chemical carcinogens as strong electrophilic reactants is reviewed, especially with respect to the studies carried in the authors' laboratory.

Induction of the Z conformation in poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) by binding of N-2-acetylaminofluorene to guanine residues

Poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) and poly(dG).poly(dC) were modified by treatment with N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene, and their conformations were examined by circular dichroism and susceptibility to nuclease S1 digestion. A sample of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified to an extent of 28% with acetylaminofluorene (AAF) at the C(8) position of the deoxyguanosine residues showed a circular dichroism spectrum that had the characteristics of the Z conformation seen in unmodified poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) at high ethanol or salt concentrations. A sample of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified only 3% by AAF showed a spectrum characteristic of the B form of DNA. However, it was converted to the Z form at ethanol concentrations lower than required to convert unmodified poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) from the B to the Z form. Poly(dG).poly(dC), which does not undergo the B-to-Z transition at high ethanol concentrations, did not show any large conformational changes with high AAF modification. Susceptibility to digestion with nuclease S1 also suggested differences in the conformations of the two modified polynucleotides. Poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified by AAF to an extent of 28% was almost completely resistant to nuclease S1 digestion. However, both poly(dG).poly(dC) and DNA modified to similar levels by AAF were highly susceptible to nuclease S1 digestion. Two different conformations for AAF-modified deoxyguanosine are proposed, depending on whether its position is in alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences or in random-sequence DNA.

Alternative conformations of DNA modified by N-2-acetylaminofluorene

Modification of DNA by the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene gives two adducts, a major one at the C-8 position of guanine and a minor one at the N-2 position with differing conformations. Binding at the C-8 position results in a large distortion of the DNA helix referred to as the "base displacement model" with the carcinogen inserted into the DNA helix and the guanosine displaced to the outside. The result is increased susceptibility to nuclease S1 digestion due to the presence of large, single-stranded regions in the modified DNA. In contrast, the N-2 adduct results in much less distortion of the helix and is less susceptible to nuclease S1 digestion. A third and predominant adduct is formed in vivo, the deacetylated C-8 guanine adduct. The conformation of this adduct has been investigated using the dimer dApdG as a model for DNA. The attachment of aminofluorene (AF) residues introduced smaller changes in the circular dichroism (CD) spectra of dApdG than binding of acetylaminofluorene (AAF) residues. Similarly, binding of AF residues caused lower upfield shifts for the H-2 and H-8 protons of adenine than the AAF residues. These results suggest that AF residues are less stacked with neighboring bases than AAF and induce less distortion in conformation of the modified regions than AAF. An alternative conformation of AAF-modified deoxyguanosine has been suggested based on studies of poly(dG-dC).(dG-dC). Modification of his copolymer with AAF to an extent of 28% showed a CD spectrum that had the characteristics of the left-handed Z conformation seen in unmodified poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) at high ethanol or salt concentrations. Poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) which does not undergo the B to Z transition at high ethanol concentrations, did not show this type of conformational change with high AAF modifications. Differences in conformation were suggested by single-strand specific nuclease S1 digestion and reactivity with anticytidine antibodies. Highly modified poly(GS-dC).poly(DG-dC) was almost completely resistant to nuclease S1 hydrolysis, while, modified DNa and poly(dG).poly(dC) are highly susceptible to digestion. Two possible conformations for deoxyguanosine modified at the C-8 position by AAF are compared depending on whether its position is in alternating purine-pyrimidine sequences or random sequence DNA.

In vitro DNA reaction with a carcinogen: the O,O'-diacetyl-4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide changes of stability of modified DNA

The diacetyl derivative of 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide, the proximate carcinogen of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide, was reacted in vitro with native and heat denatured chicken erythrocyte DNA under various conditions. The amount of fixed carcinogen was obtained by using the labeled diacetyl derivative and from this result the molar extinction coefficients of bound carcinogen were calculated in order to allow a direct spectrophotometric determination. A decrease in melting temperature of DNA samples modified by O,O'-diacetyl 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (di Ac-4HAQO) was measured: the melting temperature depression value is equal to 1.4 degrees C per 1% of modified DNA bases. This result was compared with the values previously obtained by Fuchs and coworkers (Fuchs, R. and Daune, M. (1973) FEBS Lett, 34, 295-298 and Fuchs, R. Lefebvre, J.F., Pouyet, J. and Daune, M. (1976) Biochemistry 15, 3347-3351) for N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene-modified DNA and by Lang et al. [25] for the phenanthrylation of the DNA bases of N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminophenanthrene-modified DNA.

Cooperative structural transition of PM2 DNA at high ionic strength and its dependence on DNA damages

Pohl and Jovin have shown that poly(dG--dC) . poly (dG--dC) in solution undergoes a cooperative transition at 2.5 M NaCl at neutral pH. The two forms of the polymer are structurally different as indicated by a change in ethidium bromide intercalation and in circular dichroism (CD). Wang et al. and Davies and Zimmerman have suggested that the low salt form of the polymer might correspond to the B form of DNA (right-handed helix) and the high salt form to the Z form of DNA (left-handed helix). We describe here a salt-induced transition of supercoiled PM2 DNA from a form which passes through nitrocellulose filters to a form which is retained by these filters. The transition occurs between 2.5 and 3.5 M NaCl. The dependence of the apparent equilibrium constant on the salt concentration indicates a cooperative transition. Irradiation of DNA with UV light or alkylation with N-acetoxyacetylaminofluorene (AAAF) shifts the transition to lower salt concentrations. The transition can also be observed with linear DNA but requires a much higher salt concentration.

A transversion mutation hypothesis for chemical carcinogenesis by N2-substitution of guanine in DNA

Several carcinogenic aromatic amines and polycyclic hydrocarbons react covalently with the exocyclic amino group (N2) of guanine in DNA. In this study, space-filling molecular models of DNA containing N2-guanyl adducts of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) or benzo[a]pyrene (BP) were constructued. From these models and from available physico-chemical data, it is suggested that the N2 adducts may be easily converted from the normal anti to a syn conformation (base/deoxyribose). This confuguration causes minimal distortion of the DNA model with only a 2--3 A shift in the helical axis of symmetry. Such an alteration may account for the persistence of these adducts in DNA and for the frameshift mutations induced by these carcinogens. Additionally, the syn N2-guanyl configuration places the N-7 and O6 atoms of the modified syn guanine in the base pairing region such that, duration replication, mispairing with N-1 and N2 of an opposite guanine may occur. This would then represent a carcinogen-induced transversion mutation and may lead to neoplastic transformation.

Characterization of DNA adducts of the carcinogen N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene in vitro and in vivo

Since the susceptibility of specific tissues to tumor formation has been correlated with the persistence of DNA-carcinogen adducts, the identity and persistence of DNA adducts formed from the hepatocarcinogen N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (MAB) has been determined. The synthetic ultimate carcinogen N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene (N-BxO-MAB) was reacted in vitro with either calf thymus or rat liver DNA to yield approx. 1 bound residue per 1000 nucleotides. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the DNA and high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis, at least six MAB adducts were detected. Two of the products cochromatographed with MAB-DNA adducts formed in rat liver in vivo following oral administration of the precarcinogen MAB. These two adducts were identified by mass, UV and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)- and 3-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-MAB. The former adduct was initially the predominant product in vivo, but it could not be detected 7 days following treatment. The latter adduct remained at a constant level for 14 days and therefore appears to be a persistent lesion.

Binding of a tryptophan-containing peptide (lysyltryptophyllysine) to deoxyribonucleic acid modified by 2-(N-acetoxyacetylamino)fluorene

The binding of the tripeptide Lys-Trp-Lys to DNA modified by reaction with the chemical carcinogen 2-(N-acetoxyacetylamino)fluorene (AAAF) has been investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. A quenching of tryptophan fluorescence was observed which increased when the degree of base substitution by AAAF increased. Similar results were obtained with the 7-iodo derivative of AAAF (AAAIF). Two hypotheses are discussed which could account for the experimental results: (1) stacking interactions of the tryptophyl residue of the peptide with nucleic acid bases in locally unpaired regions in the vicinity of modified bases; (2) energy transfer from the tryptophyl residue of the peptide to acetylaminofluorene bound to guanine bases without direct interaction of this residue with nucleic acid bases (outside binding). The results obtained with denatured DNA in the absence and the presence of chemical modifications by AAAF or AAAIF allow us to conclude that energy transfer contributes to fluorescence quenching in the case of AAIF but not in that of AAF. Stacking interactions are therefore responsible for fluorescence quenching of Lys-Trp-Lys when bound to AAF-modified DNA. In the case of DNA-AAIF, fluorescence quenching is due both to energy transfer and to stacking of the tryptophan ring with bases inside the helix. These results are discussed in relation to what is already known in terms of local structure and with respect to the role that could be played by aromatic residues of proteins in the recognition of chemically damaged DNA.

Mutagenesis by photoaffinity labeling using selected azidofluorenes

Several 2-azidofluorenes have been synthesized for use as photoaffinity labels inside bacteria. In the dark they were not mutagenic for any Salmonella typhimurium tested. When photolyzed inside the bacteria, all were mutagenic for strain TA1538 to varying degrees, and were considerably less mutagenic in the corresponding repair positive TA1978. None were mutagenic for strain TA1535 or TA1537, although most compounds were toxic for those strains when photolyzed.

Unwinding of supercoiled Col E1-DNA after covalent binding of the ultimate carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene and its 7-iodo derivative

The unwinding of superhelical Col E1-DNA was studied by means of gel electrophoresis and electron microscopy after covalent binding of N-acetoxy-N-2-[14C]acetylaminofluorene (N-Aco-[14C]AAF) and its 7-iodo derivative (N-Aco-[14C]AAIF). Studies with both compounds indicated that complete unwinding of the supercoiled DNA required the binding of hydrocarbon residue to about 3% of the bases. Thus the unwinding angle per residue of N-2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and its 7-iodo derivative was of 22 degrees +/- 3 and 18 degrees +/- 3 respectively. Our results are in good agreement with those obtained by Drinkwater et al. [9]. Precedent studies from this laboratory have shown that N-Aco-AAF and its 7-iodo derivative induce different local conformation change in native DNA (insertion-denaturation model and outside binding model respectively). The unexpected ability of the 7-iodo derivative to unwind supercoiled DNA is discussed.

Non-random nature of 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced alterations of DNA template capacity

Male rats were fed a diet containing 0.03% (w/w) 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and their hepatic DNA was isolated and transcribed with E. coli RNA polymerase. Ingestion of the carcinogen-containing diet for 4 days substantially reduced the template capacity of the isolated DNA. This reduction in template capacity was due to an apparent decreased RNA chain size (up to 50%), with no significant changes in initiation or re-initiation of RNA synthesis. This premature termination of RNA synthesis was accompanied, in some instances, by a reduced rate of RNA chain elongation. When the rats were returned to a basal diet for 7 days following 4 days of AAF ingestion, template capacity and RNA chain size returned to control values. Fractionation of hepatic chromatin on a glycerol gradient revealed that inhibition of DNA template capacity occurs on portions exhibiting characteristics of expressed, as well as those with characteristics of repressed, segments of the genome. In contrast, the DNA isolated from a small, highly condensed chromatin fraction (15% of total chromatin-DNA) showed no significant reduction in total template capacity. Analysis of the fidelity of RNA synthesis on this DNA template was performed by determining the rate of addition of individual nucleotide triphosphates to a growing RNA chain. Large reductions in the rates of adenosine and uridine polymerization were observed while no changes in guanosine or cytidine polymerization were found. This suggests the presence of functionally significant carcinogen-induced modifications of adenine. The inhibition in the rate of adenosine and uridine polymerization was reversed when the animals were placed on a basal diet after AAF ingestion.

Rapid isolation of carcinogen-bound DNA and RNA by hydroxyapatite chromatography

Carcinogen-bound DNA and RNA are conveniently isolated by solvent extraction and hydroxyapatite (HAP) chromatography. Tissue is suspended in 8 M urea-0.24 M sodium phosphate-1% sodium dodecyl sulfate-10 mM EDTA, pH 6.8 (MUP-SDS-EDTA) and extracted with chloroform-isoamyl alcohol-phenol (24:1:25; CIP) to remove protein. RNA and DNA are separated by passing the aqueous solution through an HAP column; RNA is eluted with MUP, DNA with 0.48 M sodium phosphate, pH 6.8. Examples presented are: (1) calf thymus DNA that has been reacted with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OAc-AAF), (2) isolated intact rat hepatocytes incubated with N-hydroxy-AAF and (3) livers from Sprague-Dawley rats treated with N-hydroxy-AAF.

Reactivity of the antibodies to DNA modified by the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene

Rabbits were immunized with native DNA modified by the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene. The interactions between the purified antibodies to nDNA-AAF (or the Fab fragments) and several ligands have been studied. By radioimmunoassay, nDNA-AAF, dDNA-AAF, and GMP-AAF were found to bind to the antibodies with about the same affinity. GMP-AF interacts slightly less, and GMP and N-OH-AAF do not interact. The values of the association constants deduced from fluorescence measurements for the binding of the Fab fragments to nDNA-AAF, dDNA-AAF, and GMP-AAF, in 50 mM NaCl, pH 7.5, are of the same order of magnitude. The values of the association constants with nDNA-AAF and dDNA-AAF depend upon salt concentration. From this variation; it is deduced that 1-1.5 phosphate groups interact by charge--charge interactions with the Fab fragments. The absorption and circular dischroism spectra of GMP-AAF, nDNA-AAF, and dDNA-AAF bound to the Fab fragments show that the Fab fragments induce similar perturbation to the three ligands. These results lead to the conclusion that the immunodeterminant group is the dGMP-AAF residue.

Arylamidation and arylation by the carcinogen N-2-fluorenylacetamide: a sensitive and rapid radiochemical assay

N-acetoxy-N-arylacetamides, which are generally considered as an ultimate carcinogenic form of the corresponding N-arylacetamides, react with the cellular macromolecules (nucleic acids, proteins, etc.) to give two types of adducts: (I) arylamidation and (II) arylation addition products. In this paper, we present a radiochemical determination of the amount of N-2-fluorenylacetamide bound to DNA via arylamidation or arylation, respectively. This assay is based upon the difference of stability under weak alkali hydrolysis conditions (0.1 N NaOH, 75 degrees C, 2 h) of the specifically 14C-labeled N-acetyl group of the N-2-fluorenylacetamide residue linked to the macromolecule either via arylamidation or arylation. Native DNA which has been reacted with N-acetoxy-N-2-[14C]acetylaminofluorene exhibits 16% of the fluorene adducts linked to the bases via arylation. On the other hand, denatured DNA reacts with the fluorene derivative to give almost only arylamidation addition products.

Computer-generated graphic models of the N2-substituted deoxyguanosine adducts of 2-acetylaminofluorene and benzo[a]pyrene and the O6-substituted deoxyguanosine adduct of 1-naphthylamine in the DNA double helix

Computer models of three deoxyguanosine-carcinogen adducts in double-helical DNA are presented. The carcinogen moiety is rotated and the best fit within the double helix is evaluated. The 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) derivative, 3-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-AAF, is found to be situated within the minor groove, has very little freedom of rotation and causes little helical distortion. The (+)-anti-benzo[a]-pyrene (BP)-diol epoxide-N2 adduct, 10beta-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-7beta, 8alpha,9alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-BP, has a similar fit with a greater degree of steric interaction, suggesting that this adduct could cause some local destabilization. The 1-naphthylamine (NA) derivative, N1-(deoxyguanosine-O6-yl)-1-NA, resides within the major groove, does not perturb the helix and has considerable freedom of movement.

Conformation of DNA modified with a dihydrodiol epoxide derivative of benzo[a]pyrene

The conformation of calf thymus DNA modified by reaction with (+/-)-7beta,8alpha-dihydroxy-9alpha,10alpha-epoxy7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene, which binds covalently mainly to the 2-amino group of guanosine residues, was studied. With samples in which 1.5 or 2.2% of the bases were modified, there was a slight decrease in Tm during heat denaturation and a slight increase in susceptibility to the single strand specific nuclease S1. In a DNA sample in which 4.5% of the bases were modified, there was an appreciable decrease in Tm and a marked increase in susceptibility to S1 nuclease. The kinetics of the reaction of the modified DNAs with formaldehyde provided evidence for locally destabilized regions ranging from 1 to 7 base plates, depending on the extent of modification. Alkaline and neutral sucrose gradient analyses revealed no evidence for strand breakage in the 1.5 and 2.2% modified samples, although single-strand breaks were found in the 4.5% modified samples. Taken together, these results suggest that DNA molecules containing a covalently bound benzo[a]pyrene derivative have an altered conformation characterized by small localized regions which are destabilized and easily denatured. The conformational changes associated with the covalent binding of the benzo[a]pyrene derivative to native DNA appear to be different from, and less marked, than those associated with the covalent binding of N-2-acetylaminofluorene to native DNA.

Adduct formation between the carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides

The chemical carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (NA-AAF) was reacted with poly(dG-dC) - poly(dG-dC); poly dG - poly dC; poly(dA-dT) - poly (dA-dT); and poly dA - poly dT under a variety of conditions. Poly (dG-homo GC polymer and 10--20 more reactive the A + T polymers. Lowering the ionic strength increased the extent of reaction, while pH change (8.9 vs. 5.5) had only a small effect. If ionic strength was adjusted so that the two guanine-containing polymers showed equal thermal stability (as judged by Tm) then the alternating copolymer was 7 times as reactive as the homopolymer. In aggreement with previous investigators, the major product was found to be 8-(N-2-fluorenylacetamido) deoxyguanosine.