The biochemistry of aromatic amines. 10. Enzymic N-hydroxylation of arylamines and conversion of arylhydroxylamines into o-aminophenols

The metabolism of 4-trifluoromethoxyaniline and [13C]-4-trifluoromethoxyacetanilide in the rat: detection and identification of metabolites excreted in the urine by NMR and HPLC-NMR

A combination of 19F, 1H NMR and HPLC-NMR spectroscopic approaches have been used to quantify and identify the urinary-excreted metabolites of 4-trifluoromethoxyaniline (4-TFMeA) and its [13C]-labelled acetanilide following i.p. administration at 50 mg/kg to rats. The major metabolite excreted in the urine for both compounds was a sulphated ring-hydroxylated metabolite (either 2- or 3-trifluoromethyl-5-aminosulphate) which accounted for approximately 32.3% of the dose following the administration of 4-TFMeA and approximately 29.9% following dosing of the acetanilide. The trifluoromethoxy-substituent appeared to be metabolically stable, with no evidence of O-detrifluoromethylation. There was no evidence of the excretion of N-oxanilic acids in urine, of the type seen with 4-trifluoromethylaniline.

Identification of the urinary metabolites of 4-bromoaniline and 4-bromo-[carbonyl-13C]-acetanilide in rat

1. The urinary excretion of 4-bromoaniline and its [carbonyl-(13)C]-labelled N-acetanilide, together with their corresponding metabolites, have been investigated in the rat following i.p. administration at 50 mg kg(-1). 2. Metabolite profiling was performed by reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection, whilst identification was performed using a combination of enzymic hydrolysis and directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS analysis. The urinary metabolite profile was quantitatively and qualitatively similar for both compounds with little of either excreted unchanged. 3. The major metabolite present in urine was 2-amino-5-bromophenylsulphate, but, in addition, a number of metabolites with modification of the N-acetyl moiety were identified (from both the [(13)C]-acetanilide or produced following acetylation of the free bromoaniline). 4. For 4-bromoacetanilide, N-deacetylation was a major route of metabolism, but despite the detection of the acetanilide following the administration of the free aniline, there was no evidence of reacetylation (futile deacetylation). 5. Metabolites resulting from the oxidation of the acetyl group included a novel glucuronide of an N-glycolanilide, an unusual N-oxanilic acid and a novel N-acetyl cysteine conjugate.

3-Hydroxylaminophenol mutase from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 catalyzes a Bamberger rearrangement

3-Hydroxylaminophenol mutase from Ralstonia eutropha JMP134 is involved in the degradative pathway of 3-nitrophenol, in which it catalyzes the conversion of 3-hydroxylaminophenol to aminohydroquinone. To show that the reaction was really catalyzed by a single enzyme without the release of intermediates, the corresponding protein was purified to apparent homogeneity from an extract of cells grown on 3-nitrophenol as the nitrogen source and succinate as the carbon and energy source. 3-Hydroxylaminophenol mutase appears to be a relatively hydrophobic but soluble and colorless protein consisting of a single 62-kDa polypeptide. The pI was determined to be at pH 4.5. In a database search, the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the undigested protein and of two internal sequences of 3-hydroxylaminophenol mutase were found to be most similar to those of glutamine synthetases from different species. Hydroxylaminobenzene, 4-hydroxylaminotoluene, and 2-chloro-5-hydroxylaminophenol, but not 4-hydroxylaminobenzoate, can also serve as substrates for the enzyme. The enzyme requires no oxygen or added cofactors for its reaction, which suggests an enzymatic mechanism analogous to the acid-catalyzed Bamberger rearrangement.

Studies on the metabolism of 4-fluoroaniline and 4-fluoroacetanilide in rat: formation of 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol) and its metabolites via defluorination and N-acetylation

1. The urinary metabolic fate of 4-fluoroaniline (4-FA) and 1-[13C]-4-fluoroacetanilide (4-FAA) has been studied using NMR-based methods after 50 and 100 mg kg(-1) i.p. doses respectively to the male Sprague-Dawley rat. 2. 4-FA was both ortho- and para-hydroxylated. The major metabolite produced by ortho-hydroxylation was 2-amino-5-fluorophenylsulphate accounting for approximately 30% of the dose. Of the dose, approximately 10% was excreted via para-hydroxylation and the resulting defluorinated metabolites were N-acetylated and excreted as sulphate (major), glucuronide (minor) and N-acetyl-cysteinyl (minor) conjugates of 4-acetamidophenol (paracetamol). 3. The major route of metabolism of 1-[13C]-4-FAA was N-deacetylation and the metabolites excreted in the urine were qualitatively identical to 4-FA. The paracetamol metabolites produced via para-hydroxylation were also a product of N-deacetylation and reacetylation, as the [13C]-label was not retained. 4. These studies demonstrate the value of [13C]-labelling in understanding the contribution of N-acetylation, and futile deacetylation-reacetylation reactions, in aniline metabolism. In addition, this work sheds new light on the metabolic lability of certain aromatic fluorine substituents.

Quantitative studies on the urinary metabolic fate of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline in the rat using 19F-NMR spectroscopy and directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS

1. The metabolism and urinary excretion of 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline has been studied in the rat using 19F-NMR spectroscopy and directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS methods. The compound was dosed to three male Sprague-Dawley rats (50 mg kg(-1) i.p.) and urine collected over 0-8, 8-24 and 24-48 h post-dosing. 2. A total urinary recovery of 56.3+/-2.2% of the dose was achieved up to 48 h after dosing. The major metabolite in the urine was identified as 2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylphenylsulphate accounting for a total of 33.5+/-2.2% of the dose. 3. Further metabolites detected and characterized included 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenylhydroxylamine glucuronide (13.2+/-0.5% of the dose), 2-amino-3-chloro-5-trifluoromethylphenylglucuronide (3.8+/-0.4% of the dose) and 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylaniline-N-glucuronide (3.6+/-0.1% of the dose). Several minor metabolites were also found and identified, including 2-chloro-4-trifluoromethylphenylsulphamate, which together accounted for 2.1+/-0.4% of the dose. 4. Directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS and 19F-NMR spectroscopy is shown to provide an efficient approach for the unequivocal and rapid determination of the quantitative urinary metabolic fate and excretion balance of a fluorinated xenobiotic without the necessity for specific radiolabelling.

Activation of procarcinogens by human cytochrome P450 enzymes

Enzymatic transformation of most chemical carcinogens is requisite to the formation of electrophiles that cause genotoxicity, and the cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are the most prominent enzymes involved in such activation reactions. During the past 15 years the human P450 enzymes have been extensively characterized. Considerable evidence exists that the variation in activity of these enzymes can have important consequences in the actions of drugs. Other studies have been concerned with the activation of procarcinogens by human P450s. Assignments of roles of particular P450s in the metabolism of chemical carcinogens are discussed, along with the current state of evidence for relationships of particular P450s with human cancer.

19F-NMR and directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS investigations into the metabolism of 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylaniline in rat: a urinary excretion balance study without the use of radiolabelling

1. The metabolic fate and urinary excretion of 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylaniline has been studied in rat using 19F-NMR spectroscopic and directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS methods. The compound was dosed to Sprague-Dawley rats (50 mg kg-1, i.p.) and urine collected over 0-8, 8-24 and 24-48 h post-dosing. 2. A total urinary recovery of 53.5 +/- 7.0% of the dose was achieved up to 48 h after dosing. The major metabolite in the urine was identified as 2-amino-3-bromo-5-trifluoromethylphenylsulphate accounting for a total of 35.7 +/- 6.2% of the dose. 3. Further metabolites detected were 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylphenylhydroxylamine-1V-glucuronide (9.7 +/- 0.2% of the dose), 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylaniline-N-glucuronide (3.0 +/- 0.3%) and 2-amino-3-bromo-5-trifluoromethylphenylglucuronide (2-St 0-4). Minor metabolites, including 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylphenylhydroxylamine-O-glucuronide, 2-amino-3-bromo-5-trifluoromethylphenol and 2-bromo-4-trifluoromethylphenylsulphamate, in total accounted for 2.3 +/- 0.9% of the dose. 4. Directly coupled HPLC-NMR-MS and 19F-NMR spectroscopy proved to be efficient techniques for the unequivocal and rapid determination of the urinary metabolic fate and excretion balance of fluorinated xenobiotics without the need for radiolabelling.

Metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene. I. Metabolism in vitro of 2-acetylaminofluorene and 2-acetylaminofluoren-9-one by hepatic enzymes

1. 2-Acetylaminofluorene (AAF) was converted by rat liver microsomal and cytosolic enzymes to 2-aminofluorene (AF), 2-glycoloylaminofluorene (GAF), 2-acetylaminofluoren-3-, -7-, and -9-ol (3-, 7-, 9-hydroxy-AAF), and 2-acetylaminofluoren-9-one (AAF-9-one). In addition, a new metabolite MX1 was detected. 2. AAF was converted by rabbit liver microsomal and cytosolic enzymes to N-hydroxy-AAF, GAF, 5-, 7-, and 9-hydroxy-AAF, AAF-9-one, 5- and 7-hydroxy-AAF-9-one (new compounds), and AF, indicating species differences in the N- and ring-hydroxylation of AAF and secondary oxygenation of AAF. In addition, an unknown metabolite MX2 was detected. 3. AAF-9-one was converted by rat liver microsomal and cytosolic enzymes to optically active 9-hydroxy-AAF and 7-hydroxy-AAF-9-one; in addition MX1 was found. 4. Rabbit liver microsomal and cytosolic enzymes converted AAF-9-one to 2-aminofluoren-9-one (AF-9-one), 9-hydroxy-AAF, N-hydroxy-AAF-9-one, GAF-9-one, 7-hydroxy-AAF-9-one, and 7,9-dihydroxy-AAF. In addition, metabolite MX1 and its dihydro-dihydroxy derivative were found. 5. These results indicate that AAF and AAF-9-one have common metabolic pathways, as AAF after primary oxygenation to 9-hydroxy-AAF and partial dehydrogenation to AAF-9-one, undergoes secondary oxygenation to 7-hydroxy-AAF-one and MX1 as well as the corresponding dihydro-dihydroxy derivatives.

The metabolism of 4-aminobiphenyl in rat. III. Urinary metabolites of 4-aminobiphenyl

1. T.l.c. of the 24-48 h urine of rats dosed with 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) showed that 4-acetylaminobiphenyl (AABP), 4'-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl(4'-hydroxy-ABP), 2'-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl(2'-hydroxy-AABP), 4'-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl(4'-hydroxy-AABP), 3'-hydroxy, 4'-methoxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (3'-hydroxy-4'methoxy-AABP), 4'-hydroxy, 3'-methoxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxy-AABP), and 3',4'-dihydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl(3',4'-dihydroxy-AABP) are urinary metabolites. Neither 4-nitrosobiphenyl(nitroso-BP) nor N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl(N-hydroxy-AABP) were detected. 2. Radiochromatography of the 48-h urine of rats dosed with 14C-ABP gave three fractions, U1, U2 and U3 containing 34.6%, 38.8% and 20.4%, respectively, of the total 14C. The conjugated metabolites of ABP were found in U1 and U2, and the unconjugated metabolites in U3, indicating that 80% of the 14C activity in urine was in conjugated, and only 20% in unconjugated metabolites. 3. Rechromatography of U3 gave six radioactive bands from which the following metabolites were isolated and identified as being 4'-hydroxy-AABP, 3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxy-AABP, 4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxy-AABP, 3',4'-dihydroxy-AABP, AABP, ABP, 4,4'-bisazoxybiphenyl (BABP) and 4-(4-aminophenyl)-1,2-benzoquinone. Neither nitroso-BP nor N-hydroxy-AABP were detected.

Structure-activity relationships of aromatic amines in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium assay

The author tried in a somewhat limited work to quantitatively correlate the electronic and steric intramolecular interactions of substituents on the amino group (influencing the enzymatic reactions of aromatic amines) and the mutagenic event. It was assumed that there is a correlation between these biotransformations and the electronic state of aromatic amines at the ionic dissociation equilibrium. The approach is rather empirical and arbitrary but the overall agreement between experimental mutagenic potencies and the values calculated was encouraging and led the author to further developments. It is hoped that the concepts used in this work may be applied to other aromatic molecules bearing an amino group.

Reactive intermediates and their toxicological significance

Many chemicals that cause toxicity do so via metabolism to biologically reactive metabolites. However, the nature of the interaction between such reactive metabolites and various cellular components, and the mechanism(s) by which these interactions eventually lead to cell death are poorly understood. The relative importance of macromolecular alkylation (covalent binding), lipid peroxidation, alterations in thiol, calcium and energy homeostasis are discussed with reference to specific toxicants. It is concluded that the cytotoxic effects of reactive metabolites are a consequence of simultaneous and/or sequential alterations in several cellular processes. Further studies are required to determine the relationship between these alterations and cell death.

The in vitro/in vivo comparative metabolism of 4-aminobiphenyl using isolated hepatocytes

The metabolism of 4-aminobiphenyl by isolated hepatocytes from various species was compared with urinary metabolite profiles in the same species. Radioactive compounds in concentrates of ether extracts from hepatocytes or urine following hydrolysis were analysed by TLC and reversed phase HPLC in conjunction with radioactivity monitoring and synthetic standards. The major metabolites from hepatocytes and in urine were 4-acetamidobiphenyl, 3-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl 4'-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl and 4'-hydroxy-4-acetamidobiphenyl. Oxidation of the amine nitrogen gave hydroxylamino, nitroso and nitro compounds. Minor metabolites were 2'-hydroxy amine and amide, the hydroxamic acid and the oxamic acid. The urinary metabolite profiles correlated well with those from hepatocytes for each species.

The metabolism of aromatic amines

Aromatic amines are of general interest in drug metabolism and some are a health hazard, particularly as bladder carcinogens. Conditions for the biological ring- and N-oxidation of aniline and its derivatives are reviewed. The metabolism of 2-naphthylamine and aminobiphenyls and the involvement of metabolites of aromatic amines in bladder cancer is discussed.

N-Oxidation of 4-chloroaniline by prostaglandin synthase. Redox cycling of radical intermediate(s)

4-Chloroaniline undergoes N-oxidation in ram seminal-vesicle microsomal preparations supplemented with arachidonic acid to yield N-(4-chlorophenyl)-hydroxylamine and 1-chloro-4-nitrosobenzene. H2O2 also supports metabolism of the amine substrate to the same organic-solvent-extractable products, suggesting that the hydroperoxidase activity of prostaglandin synthase is responsible for the co-oxidation. Analysis of the reaction mixtures by e.s.r. spectrometry reveals the formation of a radical intermediate bearing the characteristics of a strongly immobilized nitroxide. Arylamine-stimulated O2.- release can be observed when the arachidonic acid-containing incubation media are supplemented with NADPH. Redox cycling of the nitroxide/hydroxylamine couple is presumed to represent the major source of O2.-, but additional mechanisms, such as redox changes of nitro anion radicals resulting from potential further metabolism of 1-chloro-4-nitrosobenzene, cannot be excluded. The concerted action of carrier-bound nitroxides and O2.- in initiating damage of cellular macromolecules is discussed.

In vitro metabolism of N-methyl-dibenzo [c,g]carbazole a potent sarcomatogen devoid of hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic properties

The metabolism of N-methyl substituted 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (N-Me DBC) was investigated in vitro using liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-, benzo[c]carbazole (BC) and Arochlor-pretreated mice and rats. N-Me DBC is a potent sarcomatogen devoid of hepatotoxicity and liver carcinogenic activity. The ethyl acetate-extractable metabolites were separated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and most of them were identified by proton magnetic resonance (PMR), mass spectrometry (MS) and comparison with synthetically prepared specimens. Mouse and rat microsomes gave rise to the same metabolites. The major metabolites were 5-OH-N-Me DBC (50%), N-hydroxymethyl (HMe) DBC (25-30%) and 3-OH-N-Me DBC (10%). Addition of 1,1,1-trichloropropene-2,3-oxide (TCPO) to the standard incubation medium permitted the identification of two dihydrodiols among the minor metabolites. No metabolite of DBC was observed after incubation of N-Me DBC, or its major metabolite N-HMe DBC, with either mouse or rat microsomes, but the possibility of a slight demethylation cannot be totally excluded. The lack of biotransformation at the nitrogen atom site may explain the lack of hepatotoxicity and liver carcinogenic activity of N-Me DBC. The modulation of metabolism by epoxide hydrolase, cytosol and glutathione was also investigated. The results are discussed in the light of data previously obtained with hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic DBC.

Activating and inactivating reactions controlling 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity

Factors controlling 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity were studied using the Ames test. 1) Both rat liver microsomes and cytosolic proteins were required for generation of mutagenic metabolites. 2) 1-Hydroxy-2-naphthylamine, the major metabolite of 2-naphthylamine, was not mutagenic but cytotoxic to bacteria. 3) Ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione and conjugation reactions, such as glucuronidation, were strongly inhibiting 2-naphthylamine mutagenicity. 4) When isolated hepatocytes were used as the activating system mutagenic metabolites could not be detected. However cytotoxicity was detectable at doses of 2-naphthylamine greater than 0.2 mumol/10(6) cells. The results suggest that the formation of genotoxic metabolites of 2-naphthylamine is largely prevented in the intact, non-dividing rat hepatocyte.

Biotransformation and toxicity of aniline and aniline derivatives of cyanobacteria

Agmenellum quadruplicatum strain PR-6 and Oscillatoria sp. strain JCM grown photoautotrophically in the presence of aniline metabolized the aromatic amine to formanilide, acetanilide and p-aminophenol. The metabolites were isolated by either thin-layer, gas-liquid or high pressure liquid chromatography and identified by comparison of their chromatographic, ultraviolet absorbance and mass spectral properties with those of authentic compounds. The toxicity of aniline derivatives towards Agmenellum quadruplicatum strain PR-6 indicated that the cyanobacterium was extremely sensitive to o-, m- and p-aminophenols, and phenylhydroxylamine.

New syntheses of N-(guanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl and its 5'-monophosphate

N-Acetoxy-4-trifluoroacetylaminobiphenyl (N-acetoxy-TFAABP) reacted readily with Guo and GMP at neutrality in a one-step fashion to yield N-(guanosin-8-yl)4-aminobiphenyl (Guo-ABP) (I) and N(guanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl-5'-monophosphate (GMP-ABP) (II), respectively. GMP-ABP could also be formed in much lower yield from the reaction of N-acetoxy-4-formylaminobiphenyl (N-acetoxy-FABP) with GMP (pH 7.0) under more rigorous conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysis of GMP-ABP with alkaline phosphatase in Tris buffer (pH 8.0) at 37 degrees C yielded Guo-ABP. Guo-ABP showed a brilliant blue fluorescence on exposure to 366 nm UV light and its UV absorption spectrum was identical to that of Guo-ABP prepared by Kriek via a different route. Elemental analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data further confirmed the identity of this compound.

Alteration of urinary levels of the carcinogen, N-hydroxy-2-naphthylamine, and its N-glucuronide in the rat by control of urinary pH, inhibition of metabolic sulfation, and changes in biliary excretion

The hepatic metabolism of arylamine bladder carcinogens to N-hydroxy arylamine N-glucuronides, their excretion in the urine, and their subsequent acidic hydrolysis to highly carcinogenic and reactive N-hydroxy arylamines have been proposed as essential steps in arylamine-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis. In this study, alteration of urinary pH, inhibition of metabolic sulfation, and blockage of biliary disposition were shown to profoundly affect the urinary excretion of the probable ultimate bladder carcinogen, N-hydroxy-2-naphthylamine (N-HO-2-NA) and its N-glucuronide conjugate. The normal pH of rat urine (6.7) was altered to 5.7 or 7.7 by administration of NH4Cl or NaHCO3 in the drinking water. Subsequent treatment with either 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) or 2-nitronaphthalene (2-NN) resulted in increased urinary levels of free N-HO-2-NA (relative to its N-glucuronide) in acidic urines and decreased relative amounts of free N-HO-2-NA in alkaline urines. In addition, 2-NN yielded 5--10-fold greater levels of urinary N-HO-2-NA and its N-glucuronide than rats given 2-NA; and 2-NA was not detected as a urinary metabolite of 2-NN. Some 12 additional metabolites of 2-NA and 2-NN were also found. Of these, 2-amino-1-naphthol and its sulfate and glucuronide conjugates were quantitated. From these data, 2-NA and 2-NN appear to share common metabolic pathways which yield free N-HO-2-NA as a putative ultimate urinary bladder carcinogen. Pentachlorophenol, a known inhibitor of hepatic sulfotransferases, was shown to cause a 2--3-fold increase in the urinary levels of N-HO-2-NA N-glucuronide and N-HO-2-NA from 2-NA-treated rats. Similarly, inhibition of the biliary excretion of 2-NA by bile duct ligation resulted in a 6-fold increase in total urinary N-HO-2-NfA. Furthermore, analyses of bile revealed that substantial amounts of N-HO-2-NA N-glucuronide, but not free N-HO-2-NA, were present. The role of urinary versus biliary excretion of N-hydroxy arylamines in relation to bladder and colon carcinogenesis is discussed.

The N-hydroxylation and ring-hydroxylation of 4-aminobiphenyl in vitro by hepatic mono-oxygenases from rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit and guinea-pig

1. An analytical h.p.l.c. method has been developed which permits the separation and quantification of the in vitro metabolites of 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP). The method employs gradient elution from a reverse phase column. 2. The major metabolite in vitro of 4-ABP in liver fractions from rat, mouse, guinea-pig, rabbit and hamster was N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl. 3. The observation that liver fractions from the guinea-pig are very effective in the n-hydroxylation of 4-ABP is in excellent agreement with the 1966 report from Kiese's laboratory, showing that the N-hydroxylation of 4-ABP is an important metabolic pathway in vivo in this species. 4. The ortho-phenol, 3-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl was also an important metabolite in each species except guinea-pig and rabbit. 5. Hydroxylation at the 4' and 2' positions was a minor pathway in all species studied. 6. Aroclor 1254 was a potent inducer of N-hydroxylation in rat, mouse and guinea-pig but not hamster and rabbit. Phenobarbital induced N-hydroxylation in rabbit and guinea-pig but not rat, while methylcholanthrene induced in rat and guinea-pig but not rabbit.

Biotransformation of nitrosobenzene, phenylhydroxylamine, and aniline in the isolated perfused rat liver

1. Haemoglobin-free single-pass perfusion of isolated rat liver with [14C]aniline, [14C]phenylhydroxylamine, and [14C]nitrosobenzene was carried out. 2. Perfusion with aniline revealed apparent enzyme kinetics for 4-aminophenol formation with Km = 144 microM, Vmax = 51 nmol/min per g liver wet; for 2-aminophenol Km = 144 microM, Vmax = 16 nmol/min per g; for acetanilide Km = 33 microM, Vmax = 25 nmol/min per g. Formation of phenylhydroxylamine and nitrosobenzene was observed at a rate of 1.5 nmol/min per g provided that these metabolites had been trapped within red cells. 3. Perfusion with phenylhydroxylamine displayed a metabolic pattern similar to aniline with apparent phenylhydroxylamine reduction kinetics of Km = 260 microM and Vmax = 600 nmol/min per g. In addition an acid-labile phenylhydroxylamine glucuronide was formed. 4. Perfusion with nitrosobenzene showed very rapid reduction to phenylhydroxylamine and to the metabolites observed with phenylhydroxylamine. In postmicrosomal supernatant, enzymic reduction of nitrobenzene by NADH and NADPH showed Km = 12 microM nitrosobenzene and Vmax = 5000 nmol/min per g. 5. Three per cent of nitrosobenzene was irreversibly bound to liver proteins. After 20 min perfusion with nitrosobenzene, 0.95 mumol of liver glutathione was lost per 10 mumol nitrosobenzene infused; 0.16 mumol of glutathione was released with effusate and bile, 0.46 mumol of glutathionesulphinanilide was produced, the rest, 0.33 mumol, may have formed mixed disulphides.

The metabolism of 3-chloro-4-fluoro-aniline in dog and rat

1. 3-Chloro-4-fluorol[14C]aniline, orally administered to a female dog (0.135 mg/kg), was eliminated in the urine as 2-amino-4-chloro-5-fluorophenyl sulphate (83% in 48 h). 2. When 3-chloro-4-fluoro[14C]aniline was administered orally to male rats (ca 2.3 mg/kg), the 0-24 h urine contained 2-amino-4-chloro-5-fluorophenyl sulphate (52% of the aniline dosed), N-(5-chloro-4-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide (13%) and an unidentified metabolite (16%). 3. 2-Amino-4-chloro-5-fluorophenyl sulphate was identified after extraction as salts by proton and fluorine-19 magnetic resonance spectroscopy. N-(5-Chloro-4-fluoro-2-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide was identified by mass spectrometry and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Mechanism of 2-naphthylamine oxidation catalysed by pig liver microsomes

1. In pig liver microsomes 2-naphthylamine-dependent NADPH oxidation, oxygen reduction, and hydroxylamine formation are linear with time for several minutes. A sharp increase in NADPH oxidation and oxygen uptake then coincides with an abrupt loss of hydroxylamine from the medium. 2. The initial rate of 2-naphthylamine N-oxidation correlates with the microsomal concentration of mixed-function amine oxidase and the extent of linear accumulation of hydroxylamine is dependent on microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity and concentration of lipid (microsomes). 3. Antisera to NADPH-cytochrome c reductase markedly decreased hydroxylamine accumulation during incubation but had no effect on the rate of 2-naphthylamine N-oxidation. 4. A system duplicating all of the kinetic properties of the microsomal 2-naphthylamine oxidase was constructed with two purified flavoproteins, (mixed-function amine oxidase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase) and a lipid phase (erythrocyte ghosts or synthetic lecithin liposomes). 5. By independently varying the concentrations of each component in the reconstituted system, the contribution of each to the observed kinetics was defined. 6. In addition to the initial N-oxidation of 2-naphthylamine, at least six other reactions contribute to the kinetic patterns of 2-naphthylamine oxidation catalysed by the reconstituted system.

The metabolism and binding of ( 14 C)mycophenolic acid in the rat

Seventeen h after the intraperitoneal administration of 33 mg/kg of [14C]mycophenolic acid to rats, radioactivity was bound to the tissues of the intestines, bladder, stomach, kidney, liver and lung in decreasing order; no binding to spleen tissue was observed. In vitro incubations of the agent with macromolecules resulted in the binding of radioactivity to salmon sperm DNA and to bovine plasma albumin, the extent of binding being increased and decreased, respectively, in the presence of a rat liver microsomal system. The binding was apparently covalent since repeated purification procedures failed to release the bound radioactivity; heating of [14C]mycophenolic acid bound-DNA in n hydrochloric acid at 100° for 2 h caused the release of the bound radioactivity. Under the conditions described, 43% of the administered radioactivity was excreted in the urine (33%) and faeces (10%); the urine contained free mycophenolic acid (13%), mycophenolic acid glucosiduronate (17%) and an uncharacterized metabolite (3%).

Isolation of 2-amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate with cetylpyridinium bromide from metabolic and chemical oxidations of 2-naphthylamine

1. 2-Amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate can be rapidly isolated from the urine of dogs dosed with 2-naphthylamine by precipitation with cetylpyridinium bromide. 2. No evidence was obtained for the presence of 2-naphthylhydroxylamine-O-sulphonic acid, noteworthy as a possible source of the carcinogens, 2-naphthylhydroxylamine and 2-amino-1-naphthol. 3. Treatment of neutral persulphate oxidations of 2-naphthylamine with the reagent gave only the cetylpyridinium salt of 2-amino-1-naphthyl hydrogen sulphate.