Abstract

The mechanisms involved in the production of DNA strand breaks (SB) by model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and nitroaromatic contaminants were investigated in isolated mussel ( Mytilus edulis L.) digestive gland cell mixtures using the model compounds benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) and nitrofurantoin (NF). Isolated cells were exposed in vitro to sub-cytotoxic concentrations (50 μM) of BaP, 1-NP or NF for 1 h in the dark at 15°C in the absence or presence of various cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, antioxidant enzyme inhibitors, the free radical scavenger N- N- t-butyl- α-phenylnitrone (PBN), and other modulators. DNA strand breakage was measured using the comet assay (SB results presented as % tail DNA and was significant for each genotoxicant at least P<0.05). SB were seen for all three compounds and different metabolic pathways of genotoxicity were indicated for the three model compounds. BaP-induced strand breakage was indicated to be cytochrome P-450-catalysed and to occur via the production of BaP quinones because SB were inhibited 94% by 50 μM clotrimazole (inhibitor of digestive gland microsomal metabolism of BaP to quinones), stimulated 81% by 25 μM dicoumarol (inhibitor of DT-diaphorase, EC 1.6.99.2, which metabolises quinones to hydroquinones) and unaffected by 50 μM α-naphthoflavone (inhibitor of digestive gland microsomal metabolism of BaP to phenols and diols). Involvement of free radical(s) was indicated in BaP-induced strand breakage (75% SB inhibition by 50 mM PBN), consistent with either BaP cation radical formation (i.e. 1-electron oxidation) and/or reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via BaP quinone formation and redox cycling. 1-NP-induced SB was indicated to occur via free radical mechanism(s) (84% SB inhibition by 50 mM PBN) and catalysis by different forms of cytochrome P-450 than for BaP (61% SB inhibition by 50 μM α-naphthoflavone but none by clotrimazole). In contrast to BaP and 1-NP, NF induced strand breakage was indicated not to involve cytochrome P-450(s) (no SB inhibition by clotrimazole or α-naphthoflavone), but to involve free radical(s) (88% SB inhibition by 50 mM PBN), consistent with redox cycling of NF and resultant DNA damage via superoxide anion radical (O 2 ·−) and other reactive oxygen species production. NF was more effective in producing SB compared to equimolar concentrations of BaP and 1-NP, possibly reflecting the greater direct redox cycling capacity of this compound.

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