Carcinogen-induced DNA repair in nucleotide-permeable Escherichia coli cells. Analysis of DNA repair induced by carcinogenic K-region epoxides and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane

1,3-Butadiene: II. Genotoxicity profile

1,3-Butadiene’s (BD’s) major electrophilic metabolites 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxybutane (EBD), and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) are responsible for both its mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. EB, EBD, and DEB are DNA reactive, forming a variety of adducts. All three metabolites are genotoxic in vitro and in vivo, with relative mutagenic potencies of DEB >> EB > EBD. DEB also effectively produces gene deletions and chromosome aberrations. BD’s greater mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in mice over rats as well as its failure to induce chromosome-level mutations in vivo in rats appear to be due to greater production of DEB in mice. Concentrations of EB and DEB in vivo in humans are even lower than in rats. Although most studies of BD-exposed humans have failed to find increases in gene mutations, one group has reported positive findings. Reasons for these discordant results are examined. BD-related chromosome aberrations have never been demonstrated in humans except for the possible production of micronuclei in lymphocytes of workers exposed to extremely high levels of BD in the workplace. The relative potencies of the BD metabolites, their relative abundance in the different species, and the kinds of mutations they can induce are major considerations in BD’s overall genotoxicity profile.

Electrophoretic mobility of PM2 DNA treated with ultimate chemical carcinogens or with ultraviolet light

Superhelical DNA of the Pseudomonas phage PM2 was irradiated with UV-light or reacted with covalently binding carcinogens, such as 7-bromomethyl-benz[a]anthracene, (Ac)2ONFln, K-region epoxides, and alkylating agents. Migration velocity of the DNA products was determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. In gels of more than 1.3%-1.9% agarose, modified PM2 DNA exhibited a dose-(concentration-)dependent decrease of migration velocity. This phenomenon is probably due to a decrease in superhelix density which caused the compact DNA coil to assume eventually an open-circular conformation. Comparison of the extent of DNA modification with the decrease of migration velocity revealed that the superhelical structure sensitively reflected the chemical DNA alterations. DNA species exhibiting, in 1.6% agarose gels, a migration velocity of up to 30% of that of control DNA showed an increase of velocity in 0.4% agarose. Therefore, in 1.3%-1.9% agarose gels, the decrease os superhelix density is accompanied by an increase of the frictional coefficient, whereas in 0.4%-0.9% agarose gels the same decrease of superhelix density apparently led to a higher degree of flexibility of the macromolecule and/or exposure of additional electric charges.