Analysis of adducts in hepatic DNA of rats treated with N-nitrosopyrrolidine

Metabolic Activation and DNA Interactions of Carcinogenic N-Nitrosamines to Which Humans Are Commonly Exposed

Carcinogenic N-nitrosamine contamination in certain drugs has recently caused great concern and the attention of regulatory agencies. These carcinogens-widely detectable in relatively low levels in food, water, cosmetics, and drugs-are well-established and powerful animal carcinogens. The electrophiles resulting from the cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of N-nitrosamines can readily react with DNA and form covalent addition products (DNA adducts) that play a central role in carcinogenesis if not repaired. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive and updated review of progress on the metabolic activation and DNA interactions of 10 carcinogenic N-nitrosamines to which humans are commonly exposed. Certain DNA adducts such as O⁶-methylguanine with established miscoding properties play central roles in the cancer induction process, whereas others have been linked to the high incidence of certain types of cancers. We hope the data summarized here will help researchers gain a better understanding of the bioactivation and DNA interactions of these 10 carcinogenic N-nitrosamines and facilitate further research on their toxicologic and carcinogenic properties.

Investigation of 2'-Deoxyadenosine-Derived Adducts Specifically Formed in Rat Liver and Lung DNA by N'-Nitrosonornicotine Metabolism

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified the tobacco-specific nitrosamines N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1). To exert its carcinogenicity, NNN requires metabolic activation to form reactive intermediates which alkylate DNA. Previous studies have identified cytochrome P450-catalyzed 2'-hydroxylation and 5'-hydroxylation of NNN as major metabolic pathways, with preferential activation through the 5'-hydroxylation pathway in some cultured human tissues and patas monkeys. So far, the only DNA adducts identified from NNN 5'-hydroxylation in rat tissues are 2-[2-(3-pyridyl)-N-pyrrolidinyl]-2'-deoxyinosine (Py-Py-dI), 6-[2-(3-pyridyl)-N-pyrrolidinyl]-2'-deoxynebularine (Py-Py-dN), and N⁶-[4-hydroxy-1-(pyridine-3-yl)butyl]-2'-deoxyadenosine (N⁶-HPB-dAdo) after reduction. To expand the DNA adduct panel formed by NNN 5'-hydroxylation and identify possible activation biomarkers of NNN metabolism, we investigated the formation of dAdo-derived adducts using a new highly sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray ionization-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry method. Two types of NNN-specific dAdo-derived adducts, N⁶-[5-(3-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]-2'-deoxyadenosine (N⁶-Py-THF-dAdo) and 6-[2-(3-pyridyl)-N-pyrrolidinyl-5-hydroxy]-2'-deoxynebularine (Py-Py(OH)-dN), were observed for the first time in calf thymus DNA incubated with 5'-acetoxyNNN. More importantly, Py-Py(OH)-dN was also observed in relatively high abundance in the liver and lung DNA of rats treated with racemic NNN in the drinking water for 3 weeks. These new adducts were characterized using authentic synthesized standards. Both NMR and MS data agreed well with the proposed structures of N⁶-Py-THF-dAdo and Py-Py(OH)-dN. Reduction of Py-Py(OH)-dN by NaBH₃CN led to the formation of Py-Py-dN both in vitro and in vivo, which was confirmed by its isotopically labeled internal standard [pyridine-d₄]Py-Py-dN. The NNN-specific dAdo adducts Py-THF-dAdo and Py-Py(OH)-dN formed by NNN 5'-hydroxylation provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of DNA adduct formation by NNN.

Recent developments in DNA adduct analysis by mass spectrometry: a tool for exposure biomonitoring and identification of hazard for environmental pollutants

DNA adducts represent an important category of biomarkers for detection and exposure surveillance of potential carcinogenic and genotoxic chemicals in the environment. Sensitive and specific analytical methods are required to detect and differentiate low levels of adducts from native DNA from in vivo exposure. In addition to biomonitoring of environmental pollutants, analytical methods have been developed for structural identification of adducts which provides fundamental information for determining the toxic pathway of hazardous chemicals. In order to achieve the required sensitivity, mass spectrometry has been increasingly utilized to quantify adducts at low levels as well as to obtain structural information. Furthermore, separation techniques such as chromatography and capillary electrophoresis can be coupled to mass spectrometry to increase the selectivity. This review will provide an overview of advances in detection of adducted and modified DNA by mass spectrometry with a focus on the analysis of nucleosides since 2007. Instrument advances, sample and instrument considerations, and recent applications will be summarized in the context of hazard assessment. Finally, advances in biomonitoring applying mass spectrometry will be highlighted. Most importantly, the usefulness of DNA adducts measurement and detection will be comprehensively discussed as a tool for assessment of in vitro and in vivo exposure to environmental pollutants.

Evolution of research on the DNA adduct chemistry of N-nitrosopyrrolidine and related aldehydes

This perspective reviews our work on the identification of DNA adducts of N-nitrosopyrrolidine and some related aldehydes. The research began as a focused project to investigate mechanisms of cyclic nitrosamine carcinogenesis but expanded into other areas, as aldehyde metabolites of NPYR were shown to have their own diverse DNA adduct chemistry. A total of 69 structurally distinct DNA adducts were identified, and some of these, found in human tissues, have provided intriguing leads for investigating carcinogenesis mechanisms in humans due to exposure to both endogenous and exogenous agents.

Mass spectrometric analysis of a cyclic 7,8-butanoguanine adduct of N-nitrosopyrrolidine: comparison to other N-nitrosopyrrolidine adducts in rat hepatic DNA

The well established rat hepatocarcinogen N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR, 1) requires metabolic activation to DNA adducts to express its carcinogenic activity. Among the NPYR-DNA adducts that have been identified, the cyclic 7,8-butanoguanine adduct 2-amino-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-9-hydroxypyrido[2,1-f]purine-4(3H)-one (6) has been quantified using moderately sensitive methods, but its levels have never been compared to those of other DNA adducts of NPYR in rat hepatic DNA. Therefore, in this study, we developed a sensitive new LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM method for the quantitation of adduct 6 and compared its levels to those of several other NPYR-DNA adducts formed by different mechanisms. The new method was shown to be accurate and precise, with good recoveries and low fmol detection limits. Rats were treated with NPYR by gavage at doses of 46, 92, or 184 mg/kg body weight and sacrificed 16 h later. Hepatic DNA was isolated and analyzed for NPYR-DNA adducts. Adduct 6 was by far the most prevalent, with levels ranging from about 900-3000 micromol/mol Gua and responsive to dose. Levels of adducts formed from crotonaldehyde, a metabolite of NPYR, were about 0.2-0.9 micromol/mol dGuo, while those of adducts resulting from reaction with DNA of tetrahydrofuranyl-like intermediates were in the range of 0.01-4 micromol/mol deoxyribonucleoside. The results of this study demonstrate that, among typical NPYR-DNA adducts, adduct 6 is easily the most abundant in hepatic DNA. Since previous studies have shown that it can be detected in the urine of NPYR-treated rats, the results suggest that it is a potential candidate as a biomarker for assessing human exposure to and metabolic activation of NPYR.

Identification of adducts formed in the reactions of 5'-acetoxy-N'-nitrosonornicotine with deoxyadenosine, thymidine, and DNA

N'-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) is the most prevalent of the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines found in all tobacco products. Previous studies have demonstrated that cytochrome P450-mediated 5'-hydroxylation of NNN is a major metabolic pathway leading to mutagenic products, but to date, DNA adducts formed by this pathway have been only partially characterized, and there have been no studies reported on adducts formed with bases other than dGuo. Because adducts with dAdo and dThd have been identified in the DNA of the livers of rats treated with the structurally related carcinogen N-nitrosopyrrolidine, we investigated dAdo and dThd adduct formation from 5'-acetoxyNNN (3), a stable precursor to 5'-hydroxyNNN (2). Reaction of 3 with dAdo gave diastereomeric products, which were identified by their spectral properties and LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM analysis as N(6)-[5-(3-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl]dAdo (9). This adduct was further characterized by NaBH(3)CN reduction to N(6)-[4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)but-1-yl]dAdo (17). A second dAdo adduct was identified, after NaBH(3)CN treatment, as 6-[2-(3-pyridyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]purine-2'-deoxyriboside (18). Reaction of 3 with dThd, followed by NaBH(3)CN reduction, gave O(2)-[4-(3-pyridyl)-4-hydroxybut-1-yl]thymidine (11). Adducts 9, 11, 17, and 18 were all identified by LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM comparison to synthetic standards. The reaction of 3 with calf thymus DNA was then investigated. The DNA was enzymatically hydrolyzed to deoxyribonucleosides, and the resulting mixture was treated with NaBH(3)CN and analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM. Adducts 11, 17, and 18, as well as the previously identified dGuo adducts, were identified. The results of this study provide a more comprehensive picture of DNA adduct formation by the quantitatively important 5'-hydroxylation pathway of NNN and will facilitate investigation of the presence of these adducts in laboratory animals treated with NNN or in people who use tobacco products.

Identification of adducts formed in the reaction of alpha-acetoxy-N-nitrosopyrrolidine with deoxyribonucleosides and DNA

N-Nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR) is a well-established hepatocarcinogen in the rat. NPYR requires metabolic activation by cytochrome P450-catalyzed alpha-hydroxylation to express its carcinogenic activity. This produces alpha-hydroxyNPYR (2), which spontaneously ring opens to 4-oxobutanediazohydroxide (4), a highly reactive intermediate, which may itself modify DNA or yield a cascade of electrophiles that react with DNA to produce adducts. Multiple dGuo adducts formed in this reaction have been previously characterized, but there are no examples of adducts formed with other DNA nucleobases. In this study, we used alpha-acetoxyNPYR (3) as a stable precursor to 2 and 4. Compound 3 was allowed to react with DNA. The DNA was enzymatically hydrolyzed to deoxyribonucleosides, and the products were analyzed by LC-ESI-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS. Reactions of 3 with individual deoxyribonucleosides were also carried out. The products were identified by their MS, UV, and NMR spectra as N6-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)dAdo (16) and N4-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)dCyd (17) in addition to the previously characterized N2-(tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)dGuo (13). Unstable dThd adducts were also formed. Further characterization of the adducts was achieved by NaBH3CN reduction of the reaction mixtures of 3 with deoxyribonucleosides or DNA. This produced N6-(4-hydroxybut-1-yl)dAdo (21), N4-(4-hydroxybut-1-yl)dCyd (22), O2-(4-hydroxybut-1-yl)dThd (23), O4-(4-hydroxybut-1-yl)dThd (24), and 3-(4-hydroxybut-1-yl)dThd (25). Adducts 21 and 22 were characterized by their spectral properties, while the dThd adducts 23-25 were identified by comparison to synthetic standards. The results of this study demonstrate that 3 forms adducts with dAdo, dCyd, and dThd in DNA, in addition to the previously characterized dGuo adducts. These newly characterized standards can be used to investigate DNA adduct formation in rats treated with NPYR.