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

Genetic toxicity of 2-acetylaminofluorene, 2-aminofluorene and some of their metabolites and model metabolites

2-Acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene are among the most intensively studied of all chemical mutagens and carcinogens. Fundamental research findings concerning the metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene to electrophilic derivatives, the interaction of these derivatives with DNA, and the carcinogenic and mutagenic responses that are associated with the resulting DNA damage have formed the foundation upon which much of genetic toxicity testing is based. The parent compounds and their proximate and ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic derivatives have been evaluated in a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic assays for mutagenesis and DNA damage. The reactive derivatives are active in virtually all systems, while 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene are active in most systems that provide adequate metabolic activation. Knowledge of the structures of the DNA adducts formed by 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-aminofluorene, the effects of the adducts on DNA conformation and synthesis, adduct distribution in tissues, cells and DNA, and adduct repair have been used to develop hypotheses to understand the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of these compounds. Molecular analysis of mutations produced in cell-free, bacterial, in vitro mammalian, and intact animal systems have recently been used to extend these hypotheses.

Inhibition of enzymic incision of thymine dimers by covalently bound 2-[N-[(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetyl]amino]fluorene in deoxyribonucleic acid

The effects of DNA adducts of the carcinogen 2-[N-(acetoxyacetyl)amino]fluorene on enzymic incision of thymine dimers was investigated. Escherichia coli DNA labeled with [3H]thymidine was reacted with the carcinogen. Thymine dimers were then introduced into the modified DNA by irradiation with monochromatic 254-nm light in the presence of the photosensitizer silver nitrate. This DNA containing both types of damages, mainly 2-[N-[(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)acetyl]fluorene and thymine dimers, was then used as substrate for pyrimidine dimer-DNA glycosylase, purified from E. coli infected by bacteriophage T4. Activity was assayed by measuring release of free labeled thymine after photoreversal of the enzyme-reacted DNA by 254-nm light. The Vmax of the enzyme was decreased when it was reacted with the extensively arylamidated substrate. This inhibition of incision of pyrimidine dimers was increased with the number of carcinogen-DNA adducts, although no enzymic activity against modified guanines was present. Therefore, carcinogen-modified purine moieties can interfere with initiation of excision repair of ultraviolet-induced pyrimidine dimers. This suggests an indirect pathway by which modified DNA bases can be mutagenic.

Conformations of poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified by the O-acetyl derivative of the carcinogen 4-hydroxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide

Poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) has been modified by reaction with 4-acetoxyaminoquinoline 1-oxide (Ac-4 HAQO), the ultimate carcinogen of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the modified and unmodified polymers have been compared under various experimental conditions. The CD spectra were recorded in 1 mM phosphate, 50% (v/v) ethanol, 3.8 M LiCl and 95% (v/v) ethanol, conditions in which poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) adopts the B-, Z-, C- and A-form respectively. In 1 mM phosphate buffer, poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified by Ac-4 HAQO seems not to contain regions in the Z-form. Z-form induction could be progressively obtained by the addition of ethanol as follows: in the buffer with about 30% ethanol the modified polymer started to adopt the Z structure, while 40% of ethanol in the buffer was necessary for the unmodified polymer. In the 50% ethanol-1 mM phosphate buffer mixture (v/v), poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) was entirely in the Z-form while poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) modified by Ac-4 HAQO remained partially in the B-form. Enzymatic digestions with the nuclease S1 which is specific of the single-stranded DNA were carried out in order to support the modified poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC) CD study conclusions. The role played by the two major adducts on the conformational characteristics of modified polymer is discussed.

Evidence that nitroarene metabolites form mutagenic adducts with DNA-adenine as well as with DNA-guanine

Nitropyrenes as well as several other nitroarenes and their metabolites exhibit considerable mutagenicity for Salmonella tester strains (TA102 and TA96) which have adenine-thymine base pairs at the mutational target. This finding is unexpected as previous biochemical studies had shown that arylation at the C8 position of DNA-guanine is the only chemically and biologically significant reaction. This conclusion is supported by the extraordinary mutagenic potency of these chemicals in Salmonella strains with guanine at the mutational site (e.g., TA98). The present results indicate that a minor reaction with DNA-adenine may result in the formation of an unusually potent promutagenic DNA adduct.

The formation of acetylaminofluorene adducts in poly(dC-dG) and poly(dA-dT) on reaction with N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene and the effect of such modification upon the polymers as templates for DNA polymerases

N-Acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (AcO-AAF) reacts with the alternating DNA-like polynucleotides poly(dC-dG) and poly(dA-dT) in vitro to give adducts of the guanine and adenine bases similar to those reported to be formed in DNA. A previously unobserved guanine adduct was detected in the poly(dC-dG). Using a double-labelled [U-14C-dG, 8-3H-G]-poly(dC-dG) we show that this adduct does not involve the 7- or 8-positions of the guanine. Similarly a thymine adduct of unknown structure was observed in poly(dA-dT). Modification of the polymers with AcO-AAF inhibits their capacity to act as templates for Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and mammalian DNA polymerase alpha although the binding of the polymerases to the polynucleotides is unaffected. Such modification also leads to an increase in the levels of non-complementary nucleotides incorporated into newly synthesised DNA.

Conformational changes of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene

Poly (dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) was modified by the reaction with N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene. The conformations of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) and of poly d(G-C)AAF were studied by circular dichroism under various experimental conditions. In 95% ethanol, the two polynucleotides adopt the A-form. In 3.9 M LiCl, the transition B-form-C-form is observed with poly(dG-dC) . poly (dG-dC) but not with poly d(G-C)AAF. In 1 mM phosphate buffer, poly d(G-C)AAF behaves as a mixture of B- and Z-form, the relative percentages depending upon the amounts of modified bases. The percentage of Z-form is decreased by addition of EDTA and is increased by addition of Mg++. Spermine favors the Z-form in modified and unmodified polynucleotides. No defect in the double helix of poly d(G-C)AAF is detected by SI endonuclease.

Differential inhibition of rat liver DNA polymerases in vitro by direct-acting carcinogens and the protective effect of a thiol reducing agent

The direct-acting carcinogens acetoxyacetylaminofluorene, methylnitrosourea, and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were tested for their ability to inhibit rat liver DNA polymerase-alpha, -beta, and -gamma activity in vitro. DNA polymerase-alpha was the most sensitive, polymerase-beta was the most resistant, and polymerase-gamma exhibited an intermediate response. When the reactions were reassayed in the presence and absence of dithiothreitol, a thiol reducing agent, it was shown that the inhibition by carcinogens was generally reversible with increasing dithiothreitol, except that polymerase-beta recovered only 80-90% of control values. These and binding data suggest that DNA polymerase-beta, the putative repair enzyme, is highly resistant to carcinogen damage. This resistance may contribute to the retention of normal function and fidelity of the repair enzyme during carcinogen exposure in vivo and to a normal cellular repair.

Conformation of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by the carcinogens N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene and N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene

Poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) was modified by reaction with N-acetoxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-AcO-AAF). Two samples with 6.6% and 8.5% modified bases were prepared. The modified bases are randomly distributed along the polymer chain, as deduced from competition experiments between antibodies against N-2-(guanosin-8-yl)-acetylaminofluorene, modified poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC), and modified DNAs. Circular dichroism studies show that poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF is much more sensitive to the addition of alcohol than poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC). In about 50% (vol/vol) alcohol, both polynucleotides have the same conformation, which is the Z form or a Z-like form. Moreover, in low salt and in the absence of alcohol, poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF is partially in the Z form. Poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene can also adopt the Z form, but the transition is induced at a higher percentage than that of poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-AcO-AAF. In low salt and in the absence of alcohol, no Z form was detected in poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by N-hydroxy-N-2-aminofluorene.

Recognition of chemical carcinogen-modified DNA by a DNA-binding protein

Using a filter binding assay, we have detected and partially purified a protein from human placenta that has a high affinity for N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-modified double-stranded DNA (AAF-[3H]DNA) of bacteriophage T7. This protein has been partially purified from a 1 M NaCl extract of a crude nuclear fraction by a combination of ion-exchange and nucleic acid affinity chromatography. With AAF-[3H]DNA as the substrate, the binding reaction reached equlibrium within 1 hr at 4 degrees C, and the extent of binding ws proportional to the amount of protein added. Complex formation was dependent on both pH and salt concentration and was unaffected by the presence of sulfhydryl-blocking agents. The purest protein fraction also recognizes DNA modified with methylmethane-sulfonate or methylnitrosourea. It shows little or no recognition of single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, supercoiled bacteriophage phiX174 DNA, partially depurinated DNA, glucosylated bacteriophage T4DNA, or UV-irradiated DNA. No endo- or exonuclease activity, DNA polymerase activity, or glucosylase activity for AAF-DNA was detectable in the preparation.

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.