Mutagenic specificity of a potent carcinogen, benzo[c]phenanthrene (4R,3S)-dihydrodiol (2S,1R)-epoxide, which reacts with adenine and guanine in DNA

Limited mutagenicity of electronic cigarettes in mouse or human cells in vitro

OBJECTIVES

Electronic cigarettes (e-cig), which are promoted as safe alternatives to tobacco cigarettes or as aides to smoking cessation, are becoming increasingly popular among adult chronic smokers and adolescents experimenting with tobacco products. Despite the known presence of toxicants and carcinogens in e-cig liquid and vapor, the possible carcinogenic effects of e-cig use in humans are unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We have utilized two validated in vitro model systems to investigate whether e-cig vapor induces mutation in mouse or human cells. We have exposed transgenic mouse fibroblasts in vitro to e-cig vapor extracts prepared from three popular brands, and determined the induction of mutagenesis in a reporter gene, the cII transgene. Furthermore, we have treated the pSP189 plasmid with e-cig vapor extract, transfected human fibroblast cells with the e-cig-treated plasmid, and screened for the induced mutations in the supF gene.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

We observed no statistically significant increases in relative mutant frequency in the cII transgene or supF gene in the e-cig treated mouse or human cells, respectively. Our data indicate that e-cig vapor extracts from the selected brands and at concentrations tested in this study have limited mutagenicity in both mouse and human cells in vitro.

DNA Damage, Repair, and Mutation Induction by (+)-Synand (−)-Anti-Dibenzo[a,l]Pyrene-11,12-Diol-13,14-Epoxides in Mouse Cells

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental carcinogens. PAHs are classified into bay and fjord region compounds according to structural differences in the molecule region where enzymatic epoxidation occurs. Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), one of the fjord region compounds, has been demonstrated to be the most carcinogenic PAH known to date. DB[a,l]P is activated to fjord region (+)-syn and (-)-anti-11,12-dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]PDE) metabolites. In this study, we analyzed mutagenesis induced by (+)-syn- and (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE at the cII transgene in Big-Blue mouse cells. The mutant frequency of untreated cells (background level) was 6.53 x 10(-5). This level increased 3.7-fold for 20 nmol/L, 5.3-fold for 50 nmol/L, and 7.9-fold for 100 nmol/L (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE, respectively. In the case of (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE it increased 4.5-fold for 20 nmol/L, 6.7-fold for 50 nmol/L, and 10.6-fold for 100 nmol/L, respectively, indicating that (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE is slightly more mutagenic than (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE. The mutational spectra of (+)-syn- and (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE were quite similar except for several hotspots, specific for either (+)-syn-DB[a,l]PDE or (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE. The most frequently induced mutations were A to T transversions, which were 43.9% for (+)-syn- and 38.8% for (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE. In addition, G to T transversions were induced significantly, at frequencies of 18.5% by (+)-syn- and 18.1% by (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE. Using UvrABC cleavage and ligation-mediated PCR or the terminal transferase-dependent PCR method, we have determined DB[a,l]PDE-DNA adduct formation sites and repair rates in carcinogen-exposed cells. The mutation hotspots coincided with sites of strong adduct formation, but not all of the adduct hotspots were mutational hotspots. Slow adduct removal occurred for both (+)-syn- and (-)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE adducts over a time period of up to 72 hours. The data suggest that, although the (-)-anti-isomer is slightly more mutagenic, DNA adducts of both DB[a,l]PDE stereoisomers may have similar biological properties. We discuss the implications of these findings for human cancer mutagenesis.

In vitro and in vivo modulations of benzo[c]phenanthrene-DNA adducts by DNA mismatch repair system

Benzo[c]phenanthrene dihydrodiol epoxide (B[c] PhDE) is well known as an important environmental chemical carcinogen that preferentially modifies DNA in adenine residues. However, the molecular mechanism by which B[c]PhDE induces tumorigenesis is not fully understood. In this report, we demonstrate that DNA mismatch repair (MMR), a genome maintenance system, plays an important role in B[c]PhDE-induced carcinogensis by promoting apoptosis in cells treated with B[c]PhDE. We show that purified human MMR recognition proteins, MutS(alpha) and MutSbeta, specifically recognized B[c]PhDE-DNA adducts. Cell lines proficient in MMR exhibited several-fold more sensitivity to killing than cell lines defective in either MutS(alpha) or MutL(alpha) by B[c]PhDE; the nature of this sensitivity was shown to be due to increased apoptosis. Additionally, wild-type mice exposed to B[c]PhDE had intestinal crypt cells that underwent apoptosis significantly more often than intestinal crypt cells found in B[c]PhDE-treated Msh2(-/-) or Mlh1(-/-) mice. These findings, combined with previous studies, suggest that the MMR system may serve as a general sensor for chemical-caused DNA damage to prevent damaged cells from mutagenesis and carcinogenesis by promoting apoptosis.

Human RNA polymerase II is partially blocked by DNA adducts derived from tumorigenic benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxides: relating biological consequences to conformational preferences

Environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are metabolically activated to diol epoxides that can react with DNA, resulting in covalent modifications to the bases. The (+)- and (-)-3,4-dihydroxy-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-benzo[c]phenanthrene (anti-BPhDE) isomers are diol epoxide metabolites of the PAH benzo[c]phenanthrene (BPh). These enantiomers readily react with DNA at the N6 position of adenine, forming bulky (+)-1R- or (-)-1S-trans-anti-[BPh]-N6-dA adducts. Transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair clears such bulky adducts from cellular DNA, presumably in response to RNA polymerase transcription complexes that stall at the bulky lesions. Little is known about the effects of [BPh]-N6-dA lesions on RNA polymerase II, hence, the behavior of human RNA polymerase II was examined at these adducts. A site-specific, stereochemically pure [BPh]-N6-dA adduct was positioned on the transcribed or non-transcribed strand of a DNA template with a suitable promoter for RNA polymerase II located upstream from the lesion. Transcription reactions were then carried out with HeLa nuclear extract. Each [BPh]-dA isomer strongly impeded human RNA polymerase II progression when it was located on the transcribed strand; however, a small but significant degree of lesion bypass occurred, and the extent of polymerase blockage and bypass was dependent on the stereochemistry of the adduct. Molecular modeling of the lesions supports the idea that each adduct can exist in two orientations within the polymerase active site, one that permits nucleotide incorporation and another that blocks the RNA polymerase nucleotide entry channel, thus preventing base incorporation and causing the polymerase to stall or arrest.

High frequency of ras mutations in forestomach and lung tumors of B6C3F1 mice exposed to 1-amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone for 2 years

1-Amino-2,4-dibromoanthraquinone (ADBAQ) is an anthraquinone-derived vat dye, and a potent carcinogen in laboratory animals. In a 2-year study with dietary exposure to 10,000 or 20,000 ppm ADBAQ, increased incidence of forestomach and lung tumors were observed in B6C3F1 mice. The present study indentified genetic alterations in H-ras and K-ras proto-oncogenes in ADBAQ-induced tumors. Point mutations in ras proto-oncogenes were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism, single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis and cycle sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified DNA isolated from paraffin-embedded squamous cell papillomas and carcinomas in the forestomach, and alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and carcinomas in the lung. A higher frequency of ras mutations was identified in ADBAQ-induced forestomach (23/32, 72%) and lung tumors (16/23, 70%) than in spontaneous forestomach (4/11, 36%) and lung tumors (26/86, 30%). H-ras codon 61 CTA mutations were detected in (4/8, 50%) ADBAQ-induced forestomach squamous cell papillomas and (10/24, 42%) squamous cell carcinomas, but not in the spontaneous forestomach tumors examined. H-ras codon 61 CGA mutation (6/24, 25%) was also detected in ADBAQ-induced forestomach squamous cell carcinomas. K-ras codon 61 A to T transversions and A to G transitions were prominent in ADBAQ-induced lung alveolar/bronchiolar adenomas and alveolar/bronchiolar carcinomas. The major finding of A to T transversions or A to G transitions in forestomach and lung tumors suggests that ADBAQ or its metabolites target adenine bases in the ras proto-oncogenes and that these mutations play a dominant role in multi-organ

Evaluation of fecal mutagenicity and colorectal cancer risk

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common internal malignancies in Western society. The cause of this disease appears to be multifactorial and involves genetic as well as environmental aspects. The human colon is continuously exposed to a complex mixture of compounds, which is either of direct dietary origin or the result of digestive, microbial and excretory processes. In order to establish the mutagenic burden of the colorectal mucosa, analysis of specific compounds in feces is usually preferred. Alternatively, the mutagenic potency of fecal extracts has been determined, but the interpretation of these more integrative measurements is hampered by methodological shortcomings. In this review, we focus on exposure of the large bowel to five different classes of fecal mutagens that have previously been related to colorectal cancer risk. These include heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCA) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), two exogenous factors that are predominantly ingested as pyrolysis products present in food and (partially) excreted in the feces. Additionally, we discuss N-nitroso-compounds, fecapentaenes and bile acids, all fecal constituents (mainly) of endogenous origin. The mutagenic and carcinogenic potency of the above mentioned compounds as well as their presence in feces, proposed mode of action and potential role in the initiation and promotion of human colorectal cancer are discussed. The combined results from in vitro and in vivo research unequivocally demonstrate that these classes of compounds comprise potent mutagens that induce many different forms of genetic damage and that particularly bile acids and fecapentaenes may also affect the carcinogenic process by epigenetic mechanisms. Large inter-individual differences in levels of exposures have been reported, including those in a range where considerable genetic damage can be expected based on evidence from animal studies. Particularly, however, exposure profiles of PAH and N-nitroso compounds (NOC) have to be more accurately established to come to a risk evaluation. Moreover, lack of human studies and inconsistency between epidemiological data make it impossible to describe colorectal cancer risk as a result of specific exposures in quantitative terms, or even to indicate the relative importance of the mutagens discussed. Particularly, the polymorphisms of genes involved in the metabolism of heterocyclic amines are important determinants of carcinogenic risk. However, the present knowledge of gene-environment interactions with regard to colorectal cancer risk is rather limited. We expect that the introduction of DNA chip technology in colorectal cancer epidemiology will offer new opportunities to identify combinations of exposures and genetic polymorphisms that relate to increased cancer risk. This knowledge will enable us to improve epidemiological study design and statistical power in future research.

Mutational spectra for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the supF target gene

An SV40-based shuttle vector system was used to identify the types of mutational changes and the sites of mutation within the supF DNA sequence generated by the four stereoisomers of benzo[c]phenanthrene 3,4-dihydrodiol 1,2-epoxide (B[c]PhDE), by racemic mixtures of bay or fjord region dihydrodiol epoxides (DE) of 5-methylchrysene, of 5, 6-dimethylchrysene, of benzo[g]chrysene and of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene and by two direct acting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens, 7-bromomethylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMeBA) and 7-bromomethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-BrMe-12-MeBA). The results of these studies demonstrated that the predominant type of mutation induced by these compounds is the base substitution. The chemical preference for reaction at deoxyadenosine (dAdo) or deoxyguanosine (dGuo) residues in DNA, which is in general correlated with the spatial structure (planar or non-planar) of the reactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is reflected in the preference for mutation at A&z.ccirf;T or G&z.ccirf;C pairs. In addition, if the ability to react with DNA in vivo is taken into account, the relative mutagenic potencies of the B[c]PhDE stereoisomers are consistent with the higher tumorigenic activity associated with non-planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their extensive reaction with dAdo residues in DNA. Comparison of the types of mutations generated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other bulky carcinogens in this shuttle vector system suggests that all bulky lesions may be processed by a similar mechanism related to that involved in replication past apurinic sites. However, inspection of the distribution of mutations over the target gene induced by the different compounds demonstrated that individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce unique patterns of mutational hotspots within the target gene. A polymerase arrest assay was used to determine the sequence specificity of the interaction of reactive polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with the shuttle vector DNA. The results of these assays revealed a divergence between mutational hotspots and polymerase arrest sites for all compounds investigated, i.e., sites of mutational hotspots do not correspond to sites where high levels of adduct formation occur, and suggested that some association between specific adducts and sequence context may be required to constitute a premutagenic lesion. A site-specific mutagenesis system employing a single-stranded vector (M13mp7L2) was used to investigate the mutational events a single benzo[a]pyrene or benzo[c]phenanthrene dihydrodiol epoxide-DNA adduct elicits within specific sequence contexts. These studies showed that sequence context can cause striking differences in mutagenic frequencies for given adducts. In addition, these sequence context effects do not originate only from nucleotides immediately adjacent to the adduct, but are also modulated by more distal nucleotides. The implications of these results for mechanisms of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced mutagenesis and carcinogenesis are discussed.

p53 mutations in british patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: clustering in genetic hemochromatosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Environmental factors are important in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aflatoxin B1 causes a specific point mutation in the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in exposed individuals. In Western populations, mutations of this gene seem to be less frequent. We have investigated the role of p53 mutations in tumorigenesis in British patients with HCC. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and mutational spectrum of the p53 gene in HCCs from British patients.

METHODS

DNA from 170 HCCs, of well-defined etiology, in British patients was analyzed by single-stranded conformational polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Mutations were then characterized by direct sequencing.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine percent of tumors had p53 mutations. Ten of 14 (71%) hemochromatotic cancers had mutations within the p53 gene, and clustering of these mutations at codon 220 (A-G) was found in 5 cases; 3 others had T-A mutations. No clustering was found in HCCs with other etiologies.

CONCLUSIONS

p53 mutations are more common than was thought in Northern European HCCs. This is the first demonstration of p53 mutational clustering in HCCs from hemochromatotic subjects.

Cell proliferation and prevalence of ras gene mutations in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced rat mammary tumors

Exposure of female inbred Sprague-Dawley Curl rats to intragastric 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) resulted in a variety of benign and malignant mammary tumors exhibiting a wide spectrum of proliferative activity as measured by [3H]-thymidine autoradiography. On the basis of earlier observations of 21% H-ras codon 61 mutations in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors reported by Zarbl et al., the prevalence of this type of ras gene mutation was studied in relation to the rate of proliferation in individual benign and malignant tumors. In a series of 50 mammary tumors exhibiting highly different proliferation activities we did not detect any H-ras codon 61 mutations after allele-specific dot blot hybridization of PCR-amplified material obtained from paraffin sections. Neither mode of proliferation nor type of differentiation appears related to H-ras codon 61 mutations. The relevance of activated ras genes for rat mammary carcinogenesis appears restricted to model systems using N-methyl-N-nitro-sourea (MNU) as initiating carcinogen.

Solution conformation of the (+)-trans-anti-[BPh]dA adduct opposite dT in a DNA duplex: intercalation of the covalently attached benzo[c]phenanthrene to the 5'-side of the adduct site without disruption of the modified base pair

Benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxide can covalently bind to the exocyclic amino group of deoxyadenosine to generate [BPh]dA adducts where the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon is attached to the major groove edge of DNA. This paper reports on NMR-energy minimization structural studies of the (+)-trans-anti-[BPh]dA adduct positioned opposite dT in the sequence context d(C5-[BPh]A6-C7).d-(G16-T17-G18) at the 11-mer duplex level. The exchangeable and nonexchangeable protons of the benzo[c]phenanthrenyl moiety and the nucleic acid were assigned following analysis of two-dimensional NMR data sets in H2O and D2O solution. The solution structure of the (+)-trans-anti-[BPh]dA.dT 11-mer duplex has been determined by incorporating intramolecular and intermolecular proton-proton distances defined by upper and lower bounds deduced from NOESY data sets as restraints in energy minimization computations. The covalently attached benzo[c]phenanthrene ring intercalates to the 5'-side of the [BPh]-dA6 lesion site without disruption of the flanking Watson-Crick dC5.dG18 and [BPh]dA6.dT17 base pairs. The observed buckling of the intercalation cavity reflects the selective overlap of the intercalated phenanthrenyl ring with dT17 and dG18 bases on the unmodified strand. The structure provides new insights into how a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon covalently attached to the major groove edge of deoxyadenosine can still unidirectionally intercalate into the helix without disruption of the modified base pair. Our study establishes that among the contributing factors are a propeller-twisted [BPh]dA6.dT17 base pair, displacement of the carcinogen-DNA linkage bond from the plane of the dA6 base, the specific pucker adopted by the benzylic ring, and the propeller-like nonplanar geometry for the aromatic phenanthrenyl ring system. Our combined experimental-computational studies to date have now identified three structural motifs adopted by covalent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts with their distribution determined by the chiral characteristics of individual stereoisomers and by whether the covalent adducts are generated at the minor or the major groove edge of the helix.

Direct selection for mutations affecting specific splice sites in a hamster dihydrofolate reductase minigene

A Chinese hamster cell line containing an extra exon 2 (50 bp) inserted into a single intron of a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) minigene was constructed. The extra exon 2 was efficiently spliced into the RNA, resulting in an mRNA that is incapable of coding for the DHFR enzyme. Mutations that decreased splicing of this extra exon 2 caused it to be skipped and so produced normal dhfr mRNA. In contrast to the parental cell line, the splicing mutants display a DHFR-positive growth phenotype. Splicing mutants were isolated from this cell line after treatment with four different mutagens (racemic benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxide, ethyl methanesulfonate, ethyl nitrosourea, and UV irradiation). By polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing, we determined the base changes in 66 mutants. Each of the mutagens generated highly specific base changes. All mutations were single-base substitutions and comprised 24 different changes distributed over 16 positions. Most of the mutations were within the consensus sequences at the exon 2 splice donor, acceptor, and branch sites. The RNA splicing patterns in the mutants were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The recruitment of cryptic sites was rarely seen; simple exon skipping was the predominant mutant phenotype. The wide variety of mutations that produced exon skipping suggests that this phenotype is the typical consequence of splice site damage and supports the exon definition model of splice site selection. A few mutations were located outside the consensus sequences, in the exon or between the branch point and the polypyrimidine tract, identifying additional positions that play a role in splice site definition. That most of these 66 mutations fell within consensus sequences in this near-saturation mutagenesis suggests that splicing signals beyond the consensus may consist of robust RNA structures.

Direct selection for mutations affecting specific splice sites in a hamster dihydrofolate reductase minigene

A Chinese hamster cell line containing an extra exon 2 (50 bp) inserted into a single intron of a dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) minigene was constructed. The extra exon 2 was efficiently spliced into the RNA, resulting in an mRNA that is incapable of coding for the DHFR enzyme. Mutations that decreased splicing of this extra exon 2 caused it to be skipped and so produced normal dhfr mRNA. In contrast to the parental cell line, the splicing mutants display a DHFR-positive growth phenotype. Splicing mutants were isolated from this cell line after treatment with four different mutagens (racemic benzo[c]phenanthrene diol epoxide, ethyl methanesulfonate, ethyl nitrosourea, and UV irradiation). By polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing, we determined the base changes in 66 mutants. Each of the mutagens generated highly specific base changes. All mutations were single-base substitutions and comprised 24 different changes distributed over 16 positions. Most of the mutations were within the consensus sequences at the exon 2 splice donor, acceptor, and branch sites. The RNA splicing patterns in the mutants were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The recruitment of cryptic sites was rarely seen; simple exon skipping was the predominant mutant phenotype. The wide variety of mutations that produced exon skipping suggests that this phenotype is the typical consequence of splice site damage and supports the exon definition model of splice site selection. A few mutations were located outside the consensus sequences, in the exon or between the branch point and the polypyrimidine tract, identifying additional positions that play a role in splice site definition. That most of these 66 mutations fell within consensus sequences in this near-saturation mutagenesis suggests that splicing signals beyond the consensus may consist of robust RNA structures.

Mutagenic specificities of four stereoisomeric benzo[c]phenanthrene dihydrodiol epoxides

The pS189 shuttle vector carrying a supF target gene was used to compare the mutagenic specificities of the four configurational isomers of benzo[c]phenanthrene 3,4-dihydrodiol 1,2-epoxide. One of these isomers is the most tumorigenic dihydrodiol epoxide tested to date and another is essentially inactive as a tumorigen. Overall mutagenicities were not correlated with tumorigenicities, but each configurational isomer induced a unique spectrum of mutational hot spots in the supF target gene, which monitors primarily point mutations. It is suggested that the demonstrated isomer-specific selectivity for mutation targets within the supF gene may be indicative of a similar selectivity for one gene versus another and that such selectivity may be one determinant of relative tumorigenicity.

DNA strand-specific mutations induced by (+/-)-3 alpha,4 beta-dihydroxy- 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene in the dihydrofolate reductase gene

We previously showed that the preferred mutation induced by (+/-)-3 alpha,4 beta-dihydroxy-1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPHDE) in the dihydrofolate reductase gene in Chinese hamster ovary cells was a purine to thymine transversion on the nontranscribed strand at the sequence 5'-RRR-3' (R is a purine and the mutated base is underlined). To determine whether the observed mutational strand specificity was due to bias in the phenotypic selection, we designed a nonsense-codon reversion assay in which a triple purine target was present on both strands and all R----T transversion mutations yielded amino acid substitutions that were compatible with dihydrofolate reductase enzyme activity. From the size of the targets, a 2:1 ratio of mutations at the purines on the nontranscribed strand was expected if the DNA strands were mutationally equivalent. We isolated a total of 66 BcPHDE-induced revertants of two mutants that carry point mutations at either the 5' or the 3' end of the gene. All reversions at the 5' end arose by substitution on the nontranscribed strand; those at the 3' end showed a strand bias that favored this strand by 7:1. For both mutants, R----T transversions accounted for 88% of all the induced base changes. Thus, in this system, mutational strand bias is independent of the selection for phenotype. The results are consistent with the model of preferential repair of the transcribed strand as proposed by others. The involvement of RNA polymerase in the selective repair recruitment is discussed.

Covalent bonding of bay-region diol epoxides to nucleic acids

Although the solution chemistry of diol epoxides is now fairly well understood, a great deal remains to be elucidated regarding their reaction in the presence of DNA. Not only DNA but also small molecules are capable of sequestering diol epoxides in aqueous solutions with equilibrium constants on the order of 10(2)-10(4) M-1. In the case of DNA, at least two major families of complexes are presently recognized, possibly the result of groove binding vs. intercalation. As is the case for diol epoxides free in solution, the complexed diol epoxides undergo solvolysis to tetraols and in some cases possibly to keto diols as well. Fractionation between covalent bonding and solvolysis from within the complex(s) is determined more by the nature of the parent hydrocarbon from which the diol epoxide is derived than any other factor. Studies of a wide variety of alkylating and arylating agents have show that practically every potentially nucleophilic site on DNA can serve as a target for modification. In the case of the diol epoxides, practically all of the modification occurs at the exocyclic amino groups of the purine bases. In contrast to the diol epoxides, other epoxides such as those derived from aflatoxin B1, vinyl chloride, propylene, 9-vinylanthracene, and styrene preferentially bind to the aromatic ring nitrogens N-7 in guanine and N-3 in adenine (cf. Chadha et al., 1989). Molecular modeling as well as the spectroscopic evidence suggests that the hydrocarbon portion of the diol epoxides lies in the minor groove of DNA when bound to the exocyclic 2-amino group of guanine and in the major groove when bound to the exocyclic 6-amino group of adenine. Detailed conformational analysis of adducted DNA should prove to be extremely valuable in developing mechanistic models for the enzymatic processing of chemically altered DNA. At present, the critical lesion or lesions responsible for induction of neoplasia remains obscured by the large number of apparently noncritical adducts which form when polycyclic hydrocarbon diol epoxides bond to DNA.

Preferential mutagenesis at G.C base pairs by the anti 3,4-dihydrodiol 1,2-epoxide of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene

The racemic anti-dihydrodiol epoxide of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene preferentially induced mutations at G.C base pairs in the pS189 shuttle vector. Mutations were not randomly distributed throughout the supF target gene, but were concentrated at five hotspots. The hotspots for this agent did not correspond exactly to those produced by any other dihydrodiol epoxide examined to date, indicating that dihydrodiol epoxide structure and reactivity play a major role in determining mutagenic hotspots.

The pattern of factor IX germ-line mutation in Asians is similar to that of Caucasians

To begin documenting the pattern of germ-line mutations in different human races, we have delineated the mutation in nine Korean families with hemophilia B by direct genomic sequencing of the regions of likely functional significance in the factor IX gene. An evaluation of these mutations in combination with previously described point mutations in the factor IX gene of Asians indicates that transitions predominate followed by transversions and microdeletions/insertions. Transitions at the dinucleotide CpG are a dramatic hot spot of mutation. This pattern of mutation is very similar to that observed in Caucasians with hemophilia B, despite the many differences between Asians (mostly Koreans) and Caucasians in diet, environment and cultural life-styles. The similarity may reflect the predominance of endogenous processes or ubiquitous mutagens rather than specific mutagens in the environment. The following additional conclusions emerge: (1) The missense mutations in Asians occur at evolutionarily conserved amino acids. When combined with the previous data this makes it likely that more than two-thirds of the missense mutations which could possibly occur at nonconserved amino acids do not cause hemophilia B. (2) Surprisingly, a change in the sixth base of the intron 2 donor splice-junction sequence is associated with severe disease in HB 74/77. (3) Direct carrier testing of nine Korean families demonstrates that the stability of DNA at ambient temperature in blood with the anticoagulant ACD solution B makes it feasible for a diagnostic laboratory to perform such testing at a distance of 7,000 miles. Carrier testing revealed that the mutation in HB78 arose in his mother's germ-line.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Splicing mutations in the CHO DHFR gene preferentially induced by (+/-)-3 alpha,4 beta-dihydroxy-1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy-1,2,3,4- tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene

Cultured Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were treated with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon racemic 3 alpha,4 beta-dihydroxy-1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy-1,2,3,4- tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene. Mutants deficient in dihydrofolate reductase activity were isolated. A carcinogen treatment at 0.1 microM yielded at 46% survival of the treated population and an induced frequency of mutation of 1.7 x 10(-4), 10(3)-fold greater than the spontaneous rate. By polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct DNA sequencing, we determined the base changes in 38 mutants. Base substitutions accounted for 78% (30/38) of the mutations. We obtained, in addition, four frameshift and four complex mutations. The preferred type of mutation was transversion (A.T----T.A and G.C----T.A) occurring in 69% of the analyzed mutants. A purine was on the 3' side of the putative adduct site in every mutant. Mutations were favored at sequences AGG, CAG, and AAG (the underlined base is the target). Surprisingly, 42% of the mutations created mRNA splicing defects (16/38), especially at splice acceptor sites for each of the five introns. Thus, this chemical carcinogen may recognize some aspect of DNA structure in regions corresponding to pre-mRNA splice sites.