Mechanisms of the DNA breaking activity of mutagenic 5-diazouracil

Dediazoniation of p-hydroxy and p-nitrobenzenediazonium ions in an aqueous medium: Interference by the chelating agent diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid

We have made a comparative study of the dediazoniation of p-hydroxy and p-nitrobenzenediazonium ions. The electron-withdrawing and donating properties of the -NO2 and -OH groups strongly determine the reactivity of both compounds, thus exerting different influences upon the dediazoniation reaction. We describe here how the decomposition of p-hydroxy and p-nitrobenzenediazonium ions in a neutral aqueous medium follows a different pattern in the presence of the metal-chelator diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The decomposition rate of p-hydroxybenzene diazonium decreases whilst the decomposition of the p-nitrobenzenediazonium ion is enhanced. The experimental data are discussed with reference to a common scheme of interference for both benzenediazonium ions in the light of the radical-scavenging capacity of DTPA.Key words: p-hydroxybenzenediazonium ion, p-nitrobenzenediazonium ion, di-ethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, dediazoniation, radical scavenging, artifacts.

In-silico screening of high production volume chemicals for mutagenicity using the MCASE QSAR expert system

Computational screening is suggested as a way to set priorities for further testing of high production volume (HPV) chemicals for mutagenicity and other toxic endpoints. Results are presented for batch screening of 2484 HPV chemicals to predict their mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium (Ames test). The chemicals were tested against 15 databases for Salmonella strains TA100, TA1535, TA1537, TA97 and TA98, both with metabolic activation (using rat liver and hamster liver S9 mix test) and without metabolic activation. Of the 2484 chemicals, 1868 are predicted to be completely nonmutagenic in all of the 15 data modules and 39 chemicals were found to contain structural fragments outside the knowledge of the expert system and therefore suggested for further evaluation. The remaining 616 chemicals were found to contain different biophores (structural alerts) believed to be linked to mutagenicity. The chemicals were ranked indescending order according to their predicted mutagenic potential and the first 100 chemicals with highest mutagenicity scores are presented. The screening result offers hope that rapid and inexpensive computational methods can aid in prioritizing the testing of HPV chemicals, save time and animals and help to avoid needless expense.

Mutation spectra of chemical mutagens determined by Lac+ reversion assay with Escherichia coli WP3101P-WP3106P tester strains

We previously reported the development of mutation-specific Escherichia coli B tester strains WP3101 to WP3106 from strain WP2uvrA. In this study we constructed their pKM101-containing derivatives WP3101P to WP3106P, and further isolated their rfa derivatives WP4101-WP4106 and WP4101P-WP4106P. The six kinds of F' plasmids (lacI-, lacZ-, proAB+), each of which carries a different lacZ allele, contained in the above strains were originally derived from E. coli K-12 strains CC101-CC106. All the tester strains show Lac- and Trp- phenotype. Assays for transitions and transversions are based upon Lac+ reversion of a specific mutation located within the lacZ gene on an F' plasmid. The trpE65(ochre) allele in the same strains enables them to be used for Trp+ reversion assays as well. In the present paper, we evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of the newly developed tester strains. Strains WP3101P-WP3106P were highly sensitive to determine mutational profile of heterocyclic amines with S9 mix-mediated metabolic activation and most of the oxidative mutagens and free radical generators tested. Every type of base-pair substitutions induced by 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) or 5-diazouracil were detected in strains WP3101P-WP3106P, while A:T-->C:G and G:C-->A:T mutations induced by MeIQ, and A:T-->C:G, G:C-->A:T, and G:C-->C:G by 5-diazouracil were not detected in pKM101-free tester strains. In pKM101-carrying strains, cumene hydroperoxide induced all types of base substitutions, while formaldehyde preferentially induced G:C-->T:A transversions. Phenazine methosulfate induced predominantly G:C-->A:T transitions and G:C-->T:A transversions, while H2O2 induced predominantly G:C-->T:A and A:T-->T:A transversions. Introduction of the rfa mutation considerably enhanced sensitivity to bulky mutagens such as polycyclic aromatic compounds. All six possible base substitutions induced by 9, 10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) were detected in tester strains WP4101P-WP4106P. In conclusion, our tester strains WP3101P-WP3106P and WP4101P-WP4106P permitted rapid and simple detection of specific mutations induced by variety of mutagens.

DNA strand cleavage by tumor-inhibiting antibiotic 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine

A tumor-inhibiting antibiotic, 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine (DON), caused DNA single-strand breaks. Thus, supercoiled plasmid DNA was transformed into an open circular relaxed form DNA by incubation with DON at pH 7.4. DNA strand cleavage by DON was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase, but inhibited by catalase. The inhibition by catalase may not be due to the destruction of hydrogen peroxide, but to the masking DON by the interaction with the heme moiety of the enzyme. DNA strand cleavage by DON was inhibited by azide, mannitol, ethanol, cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol, suggesting the involvement of radical species in the cleavage. The cleavage, however, was not suppressed by removal of dissolved oxygen from the reaction mixture, indicating that no oxygen-derived radicals participated in the cleavage. Electron spin resonance spin-trapping technique using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) and N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenylnitrone (PBN) elucidated the generation of a carbon-centered radical from DON. Hence, the carbon-centered radical may participate in DNA strand cleavage by DON.

DNA strand breaking by the carbon-centered radical generated from 4-(hydroxymethyl) benzenediazonium salt, a carcinogen in mushroom Agaricus bisporus

4-(Hydroxymethyl)benzenediazonium salt (HMBD), a carcinogen in mushroom Agaricus bisporus, was found to generate a carbon-centered radical, 4-(hydroxymethyl)phenyl radical, during incubation at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C, when estimated by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO), N-tert-butylphenyl-alpha-nitrone (PBN) and 3,5-dibromo-4-nitrosobenzene sulfonate (DBNBS). Formation of a substantial amount of benzyl alcohol during incubation of HMBD in the presence of a hydrogen donor, ethanol, supported the generation of the carbon-centered radical. When plasmid supercoiled DNA was incubated with HMBD at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C for 30 min, the supercoiled DNA was converted into a nicked circular relaxed form and subsequently into a linear form. Sequence analysis indicated that the compound cleaved the plasmid DNA strand non-specifically. The intracellular double stranded DNA of Escherichia coli was fragmented by the compound, which may be responsible for its cytotoxicity. The compound induced mouse micronucleated peripheral reticulocytes. The compound was active in breaking DNA strands in the absence of molecular oxygen and in the presence of superoxide dismutase and catalase, indicating that no oxygen-derived radicals participated in the breaking. DNA breaking was inhibited by hydrogen donors butyl hydroxyanisole and ethanol, thiol compounds L-cysteine and 2-mercaptoethanol, and spin-trapping agents DMPO and PBN, indicating the direct contribution of the carbon-centered radical to the breaking.

Nucleoside and nucleobase analog mutagens

Compounds with structures close to those of normal nucleosides or nucleobases may be incorporated into cells and then become constituents of their DNA. Proliferation of such cells could yield mutants. In this article, the current status of studies on such nucleoside and nucleobase analogs is described. Base mispairing mechanisms for these analogs are discussed in light of recent biochemical and biophysical findings.