7-Methyldeoxyguanosine as a marker of exposure to environmental methylating agents

Quantification of Intracellular DNA-Protein Cross-Links with N7-Methyl-2'-Deoxyguanosine and Their Contribution to Cytotoxicity

The major product of DNA-methylating agents, N7-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (MdG), is a persistent lesion in vivo, but it is not believed to have a large direct physiological impact. However, MdG reacts with histone proteins to form reversible DNA-protein cross-links (DPCMdG), a family of DNA lesions that can significantly threaten cell survival. In this paper, we developed a tandem mass spectrometry method for quantifying the amounts of MdG and DPCMdG in nuclear DNA by taking advantage of their chemical lability and the concurrent release of N7-methylguanine. Using this method, we determined that DPCMdG is formed in less than 1% yield based upon the levels of MdG in methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-treated HeLa cells. Despite its low chemical yield, DPCMdG contributes to MMS cytotoxicity. Consequently, cells that lack efficient DPC repair by the DPC protease SPRTN are hypersensitive to MMS. This investigation shows that the downstream chemical and biochemical effects of initially formed DNA damage can have significant biological consequences. With respect to MdG formation, the initial DNA lesion is only the beginning.

The marker of alkyl DNA base damage, N7-methylguanine, is associated with semen quality in men

Sperm DNA contains a range of DNA base damage that can arise, in part, from exposure to methylating agents. However, the effects are not fully characterized and so the aim of this study was to investigate associations between semen quality and the levels of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG), a marker of exposure to methylating agents, and other markers of DNA damage and DNA methylation. Sperm samples were collected from 105 men attending an assisted reproduction clinic as part of a couple undergoing treatment for infertility and semen quality assessed manually according to WHO guidelines. Semen levels of N7-MedG, quantified by immunoslotblot, were significantly higher in men with sperm concentration < 15 × 10⁶/ml (p ≤ 0.01), semen volume < 1.5 ml (p ≤ 0.05) and also in men with any aspect of semen quality below WHO reference levels (p ≤ 0.001). Measures of neutral Comet DNA damage were correlated with semen quality in a univariate analysis but not after adjustment for N7-MedG levels. Sperm concentration was negatively associated with % methylation at the gene for DAZL but no other marker of global or gene-specific DNA methylation. Results support the hypothesis that the known toxic and DNA damaging properties of alkylating agent exposure may have direct deleterious consequences on semen quality.

Configurational and Conformational Equilibria of N6-(2-Deoxy-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-5- N-methylformamidopyrimidine (MeFapy-dG) Lesion in DNA

The most common lesion in DNA occurring due to clinical treatment with Temozolomide or cellular exposures to other methylating agents is 7-methylguanine (N7-Me-dG). It can undergo a secondary reaction to form N⁶-(2-deoxy-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-3,4-dihydro-4-oxo-5- N-methylformamidopyrimidine (MeFapy-dG). MeFapy-dG undergoes epimerization in DNA to produce either α or β deoxyribose anomers. Additionally, conformational rotation around the formyl bond, C5- N⁵ bond, and glycosidic bond may occur. To characterize and quantitate the mixture of these isomers in DNA, a ¹³C-MeFapy-dG lesion, in which the CH₃ group of the MeFapy-dG was isotopically labeled, was incorporated into the trimer 5'-TXT-3' and the dodecamer 5'-CATXATGACGCT-3' (X = ¹³C-MeFapy-dG). NMR spectroscopy of both the trimer and dodecamer revealed that the MeFapy-dG lesion exists in single strand DNA as ten configurationally and conformationally discrete species, eight of which may be unequivocally assigned. In the duplex dodecamer, the MeFapy-dG lesion exists as six configurationally and conformationally discrete species. Analyses of NMR data in the single strand trimer confirm that for each deoxyribose anomer, atropisomerism occurs around the C5- N⁵ bond to produce R _a and S _a atropisomers. Each atropisomer exhibits geometrical isomerism about the formyl bond yielding E and Z conformations. ¹H NMR experiments allow the relative abundances of the species to be determined. For the single strand trimer, the α and β anomers exist in a 3:7 ratio, favoring the β anomer. For the β anomer, with respect to the C5- N⁵ bond, the R _a and S _a atropisomers are equally populated. However, the Z geometrical isomer of the formyl moiety is preferred. For the α anomer, the E- S _a isomer is present at 12%, whereas all other isomers are present at 5-7%. DNA processing enzymes may differentially recognize different isomers of the MeFapy-dG lesion. Moreover, DNA sequence-specific differences in the populations of configurational and conformational species may modulate biological responses to the MeFapy-dG lesion.

Increased N7-methyldeoxyguanosine DNA adducts after occupational exposure to pesticides and influence of genetic polymorphisms of paraoxonase-1 and glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1

There are concerns about genetic risks associated with long-term exposure to pesticides as these compounds may damage DNA, resulting in mutations that eventually lead to cancer, neurological, and reproductive adverse health effects. This study assessed DNA damage in intensive agricultural workers exposed to pesticides by determining the levels of N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG), an adduct known to be a robust biomarker of recent exposure to chemical methylating agents. A cohort of 39 plastic greenhouse workers was assessed for changes in lymphocyte DNA N7-MedG levels between low level and high level exposures during the course of a spraying season. The contributions of genetic polymorphisms of the pesticide-metabolizing enzymes paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and the glutathione S-transferases, GSTM1 and GSTT1, on N7-MedG levels and other potential confounders were also assessed. N7-MedG increased in the period of high pesticide exposure as compared to the low exposure period (0.23 and 0.18 µmol N7-MedG/mol dG for the unadjusted and adjusted linear mixed models, P = 0.02 and 0.08, respectively). Significant decreased levels of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and plasma cholinesterase were observed in the high versus low exposure period in both the unadjusted (2.85 U/g hemoglobin and 213.13 U/L, respectively) and adjusted linear mixed models (2.99 U/g hemoglobin and 230.77 U/L, respectively), indicating pesticide intake. In intensive agriculture workers, higher pesticide exposure increased DNA alkylation levels, further demonstrating the genotoxicity of pesticides in man. In addition, pesticide-exposed individuals with inherited susceptible metabolic genotypes (particularly, null genotype for GSTM1 and the PON1 192R allele) appear to have an increased risk of genotoxic DNA damage. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 56:437-445, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dietary variables associated with DNA N7-methylguanine levels and O6-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase activity in human colorectal mucosa

Components of human diets may influence the incidence of colorectal adenomas, by modifying exposure or susceptibility to DNA-damaging alkylating agents. To examine this hypothesis, a food frequency questionnaire was used to assess the diet of patients recruited for a case-referent study where biopsies of normal colorectal mucosa were collected during colonoscopy and subsequently analysed for DNA N7-methylguanine (N7-MeG) levels, as an indicator of exposure, and activity of the DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine DNA-alkyltransferase (MGMT), as an indicator of potential susceptibility. Cases with histologically proven colorectal adenomas (n = 38) were compared with referents (n = 35) free of gastrointestinal neoplasia. The case group consumed significantly more red meat (4.5 versus 3.4 servings/week, P < 0.05), processed meats, (4.7 versus 3.2 servings/week, P < 0.05) and % food energy as fat (34.9 versus 30.7%, P < 0.001). N7-MeG [mean: 95% confidence interval (CI)] levels were significantly lower in the group that consumed the highest proportion of dietary fibre/1000 kcal in comparison with the group with the lowest intake (0.61; 0.35-0.86 versus 1.88; 0.88-2.64 micromol/mol dG, P < 0.05). N7-MeG levels were also inversely associated with folate consumption (P < 0.05). MGMT activity (mean; 95% CI) was significantly higher in the group with the lowest consumption of vegetables than in the group with the greatest vegetable consumption (7.02; 5.70-8.33 versus 4.93; 3.95-5.91 fmol/microg DNA, P < 0.05). Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that dietary factors may modify exposure or susceptibility, respectively, to DNA damage by alkylating agents.

Frequency and spectrum of lacI mutations in the liver of Big Blue mice following the administration of genotoxic carcinogens singly and in series

Transgenic mouse models offer a unique opportunity to study in vivo mutagenicity in any tissue of interest. In this study, the authors have determined the liver mutant frequency (MF) and mutational spectra (MS) of 12 week-old male Big Blue B6C3F1 transgenic mice exposed to the genotoxic carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P; 250 mg/kg/day), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA; 7 mg/kg/day), or N-ethyl-1-nitrosourea (ENU; 50 mg/kg/day) singly (3 daily oral doses) or in series (B[a]P on day 1, NDMA on day 2, and ENU on day 3). All genotoxic agents, alone or in series, increased MF in the liver (three- to sixfold). MS analyses of liver DNA revealed a high percentage of G:C --> A:T transitions in the control (88%) and the NDMA (64%) groups. In contrast, B[a]P, ENU, and the series treatment induced a high percentage (> or = 50%) of transversions. Significantly, 46% (19 out of 41) of the mutations in the series treatment group occurred at CpG dinucleotides, compared to less than 22% in the other treatment groups. The MS from the series exposure was most similar to B[a]P with a high percentage of transversion mutations occurring at guanine nucleotides (36%). These preliminary data suggest that genotoxic carcinogens, when exposed in series, produce a unique MS profile characterized not only by shifts in mutation class but also sequence context.

No association between N7-methyldeoxyguanosine and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine levels in human lymphocyte DNA

To examine associations between two different classes of DNA damage that can occur through endogenous processes or exogenous exposures such as smoking, N7-methyldeoxyguanosine (N7-MedG) and 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) levels were measured in lymphocyte DNA from 22 bronchoscopy patients. 8-OxodG and N7-MedG was detected in 100% and 91% of samples, respectively with 8-oxodG levels being approx 20 times higher (mean 8.39+/-3.578-oxodG/10(6)dG versus 0.41+/-0.33 N7-MedG/10(6) dG) which provides an indication of the relative importance of the agents that induce oxidative DNA damage or alkylation damage. The sources of these genotoxic lesions remain to be established but N7-MedG and 8-oxodG levels were not correlated (r(2)<0.01) suggesting that there is no association between alkylating agent and reactive oxygen species exposure, their metabolism and/or the DNA repair processes that can remove this DNA damage.

Methods for measuring DNA adducts and abasic sites II: methods for measurement of DNA adducts

This unit contains protocols for analyzing DNA adducts separated from the DNA backbone. HPLC is used to quantify total guanine or ribo- or deoxynucleotides as well as methods for analyzing specific adducts. These methods include HPLC with electrochemical detection, immunoaffininty chromatography to enrich for specific adducts, and gas and liquid chromatography in combination with HPLC and mass spectrometry.

DNA adducts and liver DNA replication in rats during chronic exposure to N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and their relationships to the dose-dependence of NDMA hepatocarcinogenesis

Exposure of rats to the hepatocarcinogen N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) (0.2-2.64 ppm in the drinking water) for up to 180 days resulted in rapid accumulation of N7- and O6-methylguanine in liver and white blood cell DNA, maximum adduct levels being reached within 1-7 days, depending on the dose. The levels of both adducts remained constant up to treatment day 28, subsequently declining slowly to about 40% of maximal levels for the liver and 60% for white blood cells by day 180. In order to elucidate the role of DNA replication in NDMA hepatocarcinogenesis, changes in liver cell labeling index (LI) were also measured on treatment days 21, 120 and 180. Although the time- and dose-dependence of the observed effects were complex, a clear trend towards increased rates of hepatocyte LI, as indicated by BrdU incorporation, with increasing NDMA doses was evident, particularly above 1 ppm, a concentration above which NDMA hepatocarcinogenicity is known to increase sharply. In contrast, no increase in Kupffer cell DNA replication was found at any of the doses employed, in accordance with the low susceptibility of these cells to NDMA-induced carcinogenesis. No significant increase in the occurrence of necrotic or apoptotic cells was noted under the treatment conditions employed. These results suggest that, in addition to the accumulation of DNA damage, alterations in hepatocyte DNA replication during the chronic NDMA exposure may influence the dose-dependence of its carcinogenic efficacy.

Carcinogen DNA and protein adducts as biomarkers of human exposure in environmental cancer epidemiology

Carcinogen DNA and protein adducts promise to provide a more objective measure of human exposure to environmental carcinogens than can be obtained by questionnaire data or environmental measurements. The adducts represent an integration of exposure, absorption, distribution, metabolism, DNA repair, and cell turnover, and thus provide a measure of biologically effective dose; the fact that DNA adducts are involved in the carcinogenic process means such a measure may be more relevant than exposure measures based on ambient levels of a given carcinogen. This approach has been successfully applied to situations where accurate questionnaire data on exposure are difficult to obtain (e.g., for the dietary carcinogens aflatoxins and heterocyclic amines, aromatic amine exposure via environmental tobacco smoke, etc.). Despite the promise of carcinogen DNA and protein adducts, there are a number of issues that must be addressed, including sensitivity, specificity, temporal relationship between exposure and disease, and their mechanistic role in the process of carcinogenesis. This information is a necessary prerequisite to the successful application of these biomarkers into appropriately designed epidemiological studies.

Formation and persistence of N7- and O6-methyl-guanine in DNA of chick embryo brain cells in ovo following administration of N-nitroso-N-methylurea

Previously, O6-methyl-guanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AT) of the chicken embryo has been investigated in vitro. In the present studies, the effect of in vivo (in ovo) treatment with methylnitrosourea (MNU) was examined at a developmental stage of 15 days and doses of 1.25-20 mg/egg, yielding about 1-16 mmol MNU/kg embryo weight. At intervals of 1-24 h, DNA of the brain was prepared. N7-methylguanine and O6-methylguanine were quantified by combining a rapid method of DNA isolation, high-pressure-liquid-chromatography (HPLC) and electrochemical detection of the guanine-alkyl adducts. In parallel, the AT activity of brain homogenates was determined. Within the range of the detection limits (N7-methylguanine: 16 nM, O6-methylguanine: 2.5 nM), no repair of the guanine adducts, being about 500 nmol O6-methyl- and 1800 nmol N7-methyl-adducts per mmol guanine 1 h following administration of 10 mg MNU/egg, was evident. The rather low acute toxicity of MNU in the chicken embryo at the 15th day of development DL50/24 h being > 4 mg MNU/embryo, argues, therefore, for an additional repair mechanism, e.g. cell replacement repair.

N-nitrosodimethylamine and 7-methylguanine DNA adducts in tissues of rats fed Chinese salted fish

Previous studies have demonstrated that rats fed Chinese salted fish developed carcinomas of the nasopharynx and nasal cavity. In the present work the contents of nitrosamines in salted fish from the city of Guangzhou, southern China, and the contents of nitrosamines and possible nitrosamine-induced DNA adducts in organs of rats fed the fish were analysed. Similar levels of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were detected in tough and soft salted fish. The NDMA content in steamed fish was higher than in raw fish. In vitro incubation of salted fish with gastric juice significantly increased the level of NDMA. NDMA was found in liver and kidney from rats fed salted fish for 2 years, but no dose-dependence was found between salted fish treatment and NDMA content. The level of 7-methylguanine in rat liver DNA was found to be slightly higher than in DNA from nasopharynx. However, there were no significant differences in the level of 7-methylguanine in DNA samples from rats fed salted fish and rats fed standard diet.