Molecular Mechanisms of Chemical Carcinogenesis. In: Grundmann E, editor. Geschwülste · Tumors II. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1975. pp. 329-419. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-80853-1_5]

Alkylation of protein by methyl methanesulfonate and 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea in vitro

Methylation of horse heart cytochrome c has been examined in vitro with [methyl-14C]methanesulfonate (MMS) and [1-methyl-14C]-1-nitrosourea (MNU) as alkylating agents. Analysis of protein hydrolyzates by an automatic amino acid analyzer indicates that, at pH 9.0 with MMS, epsilon-N-monomethyl-lysine is found to be the only major methylated basic amino acid. On the other hand, the identity of the predominant basic amino acid residue which is [methyl-14C]-labeled by MNU cannot be determined at present. Peptide mapping of chymotryptic digests of cytochrome c after reaction with MMS reveals a lack of specificity in methylation of a specific lysine residue in this hemoprotein.

In vivo replication of hepatic deoxyribonucleic acid of rats treated with dimethylnitrosamine: presence of dimethylnitrosamine-induced O6-methylguanine, N7-methylguanine, and N3-methyladenine in the replicated hybrid deoxyribonucleic acid

Experiments were designed to determine whether some chemical lesions such as O6-methylguanine, N7-methylguanine, and N3-methyladenine induced in rat liver DNA by the hepatocarcinogen dimethylnitrosamine permit replication in vivo. For this purpose, [14C]dimethylnitrosamine was administered to methylate the parental strand of liver DNA. Four hours later, a time period when the carcinogen cannot be detected in either the liver or the blood, rats were subjected to partial hepatectomy in order to induce DNA replication. During the S phase, 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine was administered to render the newly made strands heavy. The rebanded, hybrid, hepatic DNA of density 1.714 g/cm3 and greater was pooled from the neutral cesium chloride gradient, dialyzed, and lyophilized. The hybrid DNA was then treated with S1 nuclease to digest any single-stranded regions. The results obtained indicated the presence of O6-methylguanine, N7-methylguanine, and N3-methyladenine in S1 nuclease resistant, hybrid DNA. The results are interpreted to indicate that these chemical lesions permitted in vivo DNA replication.

Effect of various chemicals on macromolecular binding during oxidative dealkylation of dimethylnitrosamine by hamster liver microsomes

Differential inhibitory effects of various chemicals on both formaldehyde formation and total macromolecular binding have been examined during oxidative demethylation of [14C]dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) by hamster liver microsomes. One group of chemicals such as diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), aminoacetonitrile (AAN), 2-[(2,4-dichloro-6-phenyl) phenoxy]-ethylamine (DPEA), azide and ethanol inhibits both HCHO formation and total macromolecular binding. A second group of chemicals such as reduced glutathione, semicarbazide and N-(1-naphthyl)thiourea (NTU) inhibits macromolecular binding without appreciably affecting HCHO formation. Possible mechanisms of these differential inhibitory effects by these chemicals are discussed.

Effect of hypophysectomy on persistence of methylated purines in rat liver deoxyribonucleic acid after administration of dimethylnitrosamine

The formation of methylated purines in DNA following dimethylnitrosamine administration was studied in control and hypophysectomized rats. When given the same dose of this carcinogen (in mg/kg body weight) the formation of the major product 7-methylguanine and of the minor products 1-, 3- and 7-methyladenine and 3-methylguanine was slightly greater in the livers of hypophysectomized rats than in controls. The rate of loss of these products from the DNA was not affected by hypophysectomy. O6-Methylguanine levels were significantly greater in the hepatic DNA of hypophysectomized rats compared to controls after doses of dimethylnitrosamine ranging from 1 to 20 mg/kg. This difference was due to a slower rate of loss of this purine from the DNA in the hypothysectomized rats. Growth hormone treatment increased the rate of removal of O6-methylguanine in the hypophysectomized rats but did not restore the activity to that found in controls. The possible significance of these results in the induction of tumors by dimethylnitrosamine is discussed.

Effect of chronic administration of dimethylnitrosamine on the excision of O6-methylguanine from rat liver DNA

Rats were exposed chronically to unlabelled N,N-dimethylnitrosamine (25 ppm in the drinking water) then given a single dose of N-[3H]methyl-N-nitrosourea (10 mg/kg body weight). The rates of loss of tritium-labeled 7-methylguanine, O6-methylguanine and 3-methyladenine from the liver DNA in control and dimethylnitrosamine-treated rats were found not to be significantly different. Thus, under the conditions used, inhibition of the O6-methylguanine excision repair system does not seem to be a factor in the induction of liver tumours by chronic DMN application.