Aromatic Metabolism Research Articles

Taxonomic position of aromatic-degrading denitrifying pseudomonad strains K 172 and KB 740 and their description as new members of the genera Thauera, as Thauera aromatica sp. nov., and Azoarcus, as Azoarcus evansii sp. nov., respectively, members of the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria.

In the past workers have isolated several pseudomonad strains which have been used for studies of anaerobic aromatic metabolism. The best studied of these strains are strains KB 740T (T = type strain) and K 172T. The taxonomic positions of these two organisms were determined by classical methods, including experiments to determine substrate spectrum, quinone type, and total fatty acid composition. Our results clearly excluded these strains from the authentic genus Pseudomonas, which belongs to the gamma subclass of the Proteobacteria. Instead, the properties of these organisms indicated that they belong to the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria. The sequences of the 16S ribosomal DNA genes confirmed this conclusion and indicated that strain K 172T represents a new species of the genus Thauera, Thauera aromatica, and that strain KB 740T represents a new species of the genus Azoarcus, Azoarcus evansii.

Genetic aspects of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers designed from a multiple alignment of predicted amino acid sequences from bacterial aroA genes were used to amplify a fragment of Lactococcus lactis DNA. An 8 kb fragment was then cloned from a lambda library and the DNA sequence of a 4.4 kb region determined. This region was found to contain the genes tyrA, aroA, aroK, and pheA, which are involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis and folate metabolism. TyrA has been shown to be secreted and AroK also has a signal sequence, suggesting that these proteins have a secondary function, possibly in the transport of amino acids. The aroA gene from L. lactis has been shown to complement an E. coli mutant strain deficient in this gene. The arrangement of genes involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis in L. lactis appears to differ from that in other organisms.

Chalcone synthase localization in early stages of plant development. I. Immunohistochemical use of plasmolysis for localizing the enzyme in epidermal cell cytoplasm of illuminated buckwheat hypocotyls.

Immunohistochemical methods combined with progressive plasmolysis were used to localize chalcone synthase (CHS), an important enzyme for plant metabolism of aromatics in hypocotyls of illuminated buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) seedlings. Illumination of etiolated seedlings with white light results in anthocyanin synthesis in the epidermal layer of the hypocotyl. Anthocyanin-containing epidermal peels, after fixation for 30 min in 4% paraformaldehyde, 2.5% glutaraldehyde, 0.1% caffeine, were treated with a specific rabbit anti-buckwheat CHS antibody and a 20 nm goat anti-rabbit IgG gold conjugate. CHS is specifically shown in epidermal cells as pink to dark red deposits. Progressive plasmolysis combined with our immunohistochemical method showed that CHS was located exclusively in the cytoplasm of the epidermal cells of buckwheat hypocotyls except for the guard cells, which contained no detectable CHS.

Carcinogenicity of 7 H-dibenzo[ c, g]carbazole, dibenz[ a, j]acridine and benzo[ a]pyrene in mouse skin and liver following topical application

N-Heterocyclic aromatics are by-products of incomplete combustion of organic material. The overall objective of this study was to determine the relative carcinogenic potencies of 7 H-dibenzo[ c, g]carbazole (DBC) and dibenz[ a, j]acridine (DBA) in a bioassay of complete carcinogenicity on mouse skin in a sensitive strain (Hsd:ICR(Br)) which has been used in metabolism and DNA binding studies of N-heterocyclic aromatics. No-treatment, acetone and benzo[ a]pyrene (BaP)-treated animals were used as negative and positive control groups. DBC (50 nmol), DBA (50 nmol), BaP (50 nmol) or DBC plus BaP (25 nmol + 25 nmol) were applied twice weekly in 50 μl acetone to the backs of 50 female mice/group for 99 weeks or until the appearance of a tumor. DBC, DBA, BaP and DBC plus BaP produced skin tumors in 43, 32, 49 and 42 of 50 mice each based on weekly visual observations with latent periods of 55.1, 62.2, 33.4 and 33.8 weeks, respectively. The histopathology data indicated primary skin lesions in 42, 27, 48 and 47 mice for DBC, DBA, BaP and DBC plus BaP, respectively. In addition, primary liver lesions in 37 mice were present in the DBC group. The morphological and morphometric data indicated a significant increase ( P ≤ 0.05) in mononuclear cells in the dermis for the BaP and DBC plus BaP groups relative to the control group. Significant increases ( P ≤ 0.05) were observed in the nuclear area, nucleoli per nucleus and cellular area of hepatocytes in the DBC treatment group relative to the control group. These data indicate that DBC is a potent liver carcinogen as well as a skin carcinogen following topical application.

Transcriptional induction kinetics from the promoters of the catabolic pathways of TOL plasmid pWW0 of Pseudomonas putida for metabolism of aromatics.

We determined, under several growth conditions, the kinetics of mRNA synthesis from the four Pseudomonas putida pWW0 plasmid promoters involved in degradation of xylenes and methylbenzyl alcohols via toluates. Transcription by XylS of the meta-cleavage pathway operon promoter (Pm) for the metabolism of alkylbenzoates was stimulated immediately after the addition of an effector, both in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium and in minimal medium. Activation of the sigma 54-dependent upper-pathway operon promoter (Pu) and the xylS gene promoter (Ps) by effector-activated XylR was dependent on the growth medium used: on minimal medium, activation of transcription from Pu and Ps occurred immediately after the addition of a XylR effector; in contrast, activation appeared only after several hours when cells were growing on LB medium. When Pm was induced through the physiological overexpression of XylS, mediated by XylR when this regulator was activated by upper-pathway effectors, the kinetics of transcription from Pm was similar to that of Pu and Ps: maximum values were reached after delays of several hours in rich medium and after several minutes in minimal medium. The delay in the induction of transcription of sigma 54-dependent promoters reflects catabolite inhibition exerted by LB components, since the addition of yeast extracts, Casamino Acids, or several combinations of amino acids dramatically inhibited the synthesis of XylR-controlled sigma 54-dependent promoters. Expression from xylR gene tandem promoters occurred independently of the growth medium used.

Enzymes of anaerobic metabolism of phenolic compounds

The reductive removal of aromatic hydroxyl functions plays an important role in the anaerobic metabolism of many phenolic compounds. We describe a new enzyme from a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp., 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating), which reductively dehydroxylates 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA to benzoyl-CoA. The enzyme plays a role in the anaerobic degradation of phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, p-cresol, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate, and other aromatic compounds of which 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA is an intermediate. The enzyme is therefore induced only under anoxic conditions with these aromatic substrates, but not with benzoate or under aerobic conditions. A similar enzyme which reductively dehydroxylates 3-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA is induced during anaerobic growth with 3-hydroxybenzoate. The soluble enzyme 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase was purified. It has a molecular mass of 260 kDa and consists of three subunits of 75, 35, and 17 kDa. The subunit composition is likely to be a2b2c2. The enzyme contains 12 mol iron/mol and 12 mol acid-labile sulfur/mol and exhibits a typical ultraviolet/visible spectrum of an iron-sulfur protein. The reaction requires a reduced electron donor such as reduced viologen dyes; no other co-catalysts are required, the product is benzoyl-CoA and oxidized dye. The reductase is rapidly inactivated by oxygen. The inactivation by low concentrations of cyanide or azide in a pseudo-first-order time course suggests that it may contain a transition metal in an oxidation state which reacts with these ligands. 4-Hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase represents a type of enzyme which is common in anaerobic aromatic metabolism of phenolic compounds. A similar enzyme is demonstrated in Rhodopseudomonas palustris anaerobically grown with 4-hydroxybenzoate. The biological significance of reductive dehydroxylation of aromatics and a possible reaction mechanism similar to the Birch reduction are discussed.

Products of enzymatic reduction of benzoyl-CoA, a key reaction in anaerobic aromatic metabolism.

Benzoyl-coenzyme A is the most common central intermediate of anaerobic aromatic metabolism. Studies with whole cells of different bacteria and in vitro had shown that benzoyl-CoA is reduced to alicyclic compounds, possibly via cyclohexadiene intermediates. This reaction is considered a 'biological Birch reduction'. We have elucidated by NMR techniques the structures of six products of [ring-13C6]benzoate reduction. The reaction is catalyzed by extracts from cells of a denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K172 anaerobically grown with benzoate and nitrate as sole carbon and energy sources. The assay mixture contained [ring-13C6]benzoate plus traces of [U-14C]benzoate, Mg2+, ATP, coenzyme A (CoA), and Ti(III) as reductant. The use of the multiply 13C-labelled precursor increases the sensitivity of NMR detection and allows the analysis of crude product mixtures by two-dimensional coherence transfer procedures such as total correlation 13C-NMR spectroscopy and 13C-filtered 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The time course of product formation is consistent with the following order of events. Benzoyl-CoA is formed from benzoate via benzoate-CoA ligase. The first ring reduction product observed is cyclohex-1,5-diene-1-carboxyl-CoA. The next intermediate is 6-hydroxycyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxyl-CoA which is derived from the diene by addition of water. Part of the diene seems to be reduced to cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxyl-CoA which becomes hydrated to trans-2-hydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxyl-CoA; these two intermediates may be side products in vitro. The first non-cyclic intermediate formed by beta-oxidation is 3-hydroxypimelyl-CoA. This aliphatic C7 dicarboxylic acid is proposed to be oxidized via glutaryl-CoA and crotonyl-CoA to three molecules of acetyl-CoA and one molecule of CO2. A similar product pattern was observed in the benzoate-degrading phototrophic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris. This indicates that the enzymatic reduction of benzoyl-CoA may be mechanistically similar in different anaerobes.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in rat adrenal, ovary, and testis microsomes is catalyzed by the same novel cytochrome P450 (P450RAP)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in rat adrenal, ovary, and testis microsomes is catalyzed by the same novel cytochrome P450 (P450RAP)

Anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) via benzoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA in a denitrifying bacterium.

The enzymes catalyzing the initial reactions in the anaerobic degradation of 2-aminobenzoic acid (anthranilic acid) were studied with a denitrifying Pseudomonas sp. anaerobically grown with 2-aminobenzoate and nitrate as the sole carbon and energy sources. Cells grown on 2-aminobenzoate are simultaneously adapted to growth with benzoate, whereas cells grown on benzoate degrade 2-aminobenzoate several times less efficiently than benzoate. Evidence for a new reductive pathway of aromatic metabolism and for four enzymes catalyzing the initial steps is presented. The organism contains 2-aminobenzoate-coenzyme A ligase (2-aminobenzoate-CoA ligase), which forms 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA. 2-Aminobenzoyl-CoA is then reductively deaminated to benzoyl-CoA by an oxygen-sensitive enzyme, 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reductase (deaminating), which requires a low potential reductant [Ti(III)]. The specific activity is 15 nmol of 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA reduced min-1 mg-1 of protein at an optimal pH of 7. The two enzymes are induced by the substrate under anaerobic conditions only. Benzoyl-CoA is further converted in vitro by reduction with Ti(III) to six products; the same products are formed when benzoyl-CoA or 2-aminobenzoyl-CoA is incubated under reducing conditions. Two of them were identified preliminarily. One product is cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA, the other is trans-2-hydroxycyclohexane-carboxyl-CoA. The complex transformation of benzoyl-CoA is ascribed to at least two enzymes, benzoyl-CoA reductase (aromatic ring reducing) and cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA hydratase. The reduction of benzoyl-CoA to alicyclic compounds is catalyzed by extracts from cells grown anaerobically on either 2-aminobenzoate or benzoate at almost the same rate (10 to 15 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein). In contrast, extracts from cells grown anaerobically on acetate or grown aerobically on benzoate or 2-aminobenzoate are inactive. This suggests a sequential induction of the enzymes.

Enzymatic reduction of benzoyl-CoA to alicyclic compounds, a key reaction in anaerobic aromatic metabolism.

Different anaerobic bacteria can oxidize a variety of aromatic compounds completely to CO2 via one common aromatic intermediate, benzoyl-CoA. It has been postulated that anaerobically the aromatic nucleus of benzoyl-CoA becomes reduced. An oxygen-sensitive enzyme system is described catalyzing the reduction of benzoyl-CoA to trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxyl-CoA in a denitrifying Pseudomonas species grown anaerobically on benzoate plus nitrate. The assay mixture consists of cell extract, [U-14C]benzoyl-CoA, a [U-14C]benzoyl-CoA-generating system (consisting of [U-14C]benzoate, purified benzoate-CoA ligase, Mg(2+)-ATP, coenzyme A), an ATP-regenerating system (consisting of phosphoenolpyruvate, pyruvate kinase, myokinase), and a low-potential reductant [titanium(III) citrate]. The optimal pH is about 7, the specific activity 10 nmol benzoyl-CoA reduced min-1 x mg-1 protein. The apparent Km for benzoyl-CoA is below 50 microM. Five major products were found. One product is cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA which must have been formed by a benzoyl-CoA reductase. The other product is probably trans-2-hydroxycyclohexanecarboxyl-CoA rather than the cis-stereoisomer; this product must have been formed by a cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA hydratase. Two other products are likely to be intermediates of benzoyl-CoA reduction to cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA, suggesting that the reduction reaction is more complex. An early formed fifth product is more polar than cyclohexanecarboxyl- or cyclohex-1-enecarboxyl-CoA. The enzyme system is under oxygen control since it was not found in cells grown aerobically on benzoate. It is induced by aromatic compounds since its activity is low in cells grown anaerobically on acetate. The actual inducer is probably benzoyl-CoA rather than benzoate. This conclusion is drawn from the fact that the system is also present in cells grown anaerobically on phenol, phenylacetate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, or 2-aminobenzoate; the anaerobic metabolism of these compounds has been shown in this organism to proceed directly via benzoyl-CoA rather than via free benzoate.

Environmental sources, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, metabolism and DNA binding of nitrogen and sulfur heterocyclic aromatics

Environmental sources, carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, metabolism and DNA binding of nitrogen and sulfur heterocyclic aromatics

Differential expression of enzyme activities initiating anoxic metabolism of various aromatic compounds via benzoyl-CoA

The regulation of the expression of enzyme activities catalyzing initial reactions in the anoxic metabolism of various aromatic compounds was studied at the whole cell level in the denitrifying Pseudomonas strain K 172. The specific enzyme activities were determined after growth on six different aromatic substrates (phenol, 4-hydroxybenzoate, benzoate, p-cresol, phenylacetate, 4-hydroxyphenylacetate) all being proposed to be metabolized anaerobically via benzoyl-CoA. As a control cells were grown on acetate, or aerobically on benzoate. The expression of the following enzyme activities was determined. “Phenol carboxylase”, as studied by the isotope exchange between 14CO2 and the carboxyl group of 4-hydroxybenzoate; 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA reductase (dehydroxylating); p-cresol methylhydroxylase; 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol dehydrogenase; 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde dehydrogenase; coenzymeA ligases for the aromatic acids benzoate, 4-hydroxybenzoate, phenylacetate, and 4-hydroxyphenylacetate; phenylglyoxylate: acceptor oxidoreductase and 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate: acceptor oxidoreductase; aromatic alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases. The formation of most active enzymes is strictly regulated; they were only induced when required, the basic activities being almost zero. The observed whole cell regulation pattern supports the postulate that the enzyme activities play a role in anoxic aromatic metabolism and that the compounds are degraded via the following intermediates: Phenol → 4-hydroxybenzoate → 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA → benzoyl-CoA; 4-hydroxybenzoate → 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA → benzoyl-CoA; benzoate → benzoyl-CoA; p-cresol → 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde → 4-hydroxybenzoate → 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA → benzoyl-CoA; phenylacetate → phenylacetyl-CoA → phenylglyoxylate → benzoyl-CoA plus CO2; 4-hydroxyphenylacetate → 4-hydroxyphenylacetyl-CoA → 4-hydroxyphenylglyoxylate → 4-hydroxybenzoyl-CoA plus CO2 → benzoyl-CoA.

Chronic toxicity and bioaccumulation of 2,5,2?,5?- and 3,4,3?,4?-tetrachlorobiphenyl and Aroclor� 1242 in the amphipodHyalella azteca

The addition of 100 micrograms/L of Aroclor 1242 (A1242) or 2,5,2',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TeCB) during 10 week chronic toxicity tests with Hyalella azteca resulted in complete mortality. There were no effects on survival, growth, or reproduction after addition of 30 micrograms/L. Toxic effects were observed at tissue levels of between 30 and 180 micrograms/g on a wet weight basis, and tissue levels appear to be a better indicator of toxicity than levels in water. No toxic effects were observed after additions of up to 2,700 micrograms/L of the coplanar congener 3,4,3',4'-TeCB. H. azteca has the ability to avoid accumulating in excess of 140 micrograms/g 3,4,3',4'-TeCB. The amount taken up was proportional to the amount added in water up to 100 micrograms/L, but was constant at higher additions, possibly accounting for its relatively low toxicity. The low toxicity of the coplanar congener, as compared to the non-coplanar 2,5,2',5'-TeCB, is in direct contrast to the high toxicity of coplanar PCB congeners to mammals and may be associated with slower rates of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in amphipods. Polychlorinated biphenyl levels measured in amphipods from Lake Ontario are approximately 100-fold below levels associated with toxicity in H. azteca, but are above levels which, through biomagnification up the food chain, lead to salmonid residues in excess of 2 micrograms/g, a tolerance limit for human consumption.

The Broad-specificity, Membrane-bound Lactate Dehydrogenase of Neisseria gonorrhoeae: Ties to Aromatic Metabolism

Neisseria gonorrhoeae can convert phenyllactate (PL) to phenylalanine and 4-hydroxyphenyllactate (HPL) to tyrosine. This was demonstrated by nutritional and physiological approaches. The enzymic basis for this unusual ability was shown to be the broad specificity of a particulate, unidirectional, pyridine-nucleotide-independent lactate dehydrogenase. This enzyme, denoted [iLDH], has been implicated in a pathogenic mechanism whereby host-derived lactate is linked to increased gonococcal oxygen consumption and electron transport. A similar role for HPL, a metabolite available in human host tissues, may provide a selective basis to explain evolution of broadened [iLDH] specificity in Neisseria. The interplay between aromatic metabolism and [iLDH] suggests new approaches for manipulating the host-pathogen relationship.

Anaerobic and aerobic metabolism of diverse aromatic compounds by the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris.

The purple nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris used diverse aromatic compounds for growth under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Many phenolic, dihydroxylated, and methoxylated aromatic acids, as well as aromatic aldehydes and hydroaromatic acids, supported growth of strain CGA001 in both the presence and absence of oxygen. Some compounds were metabolized under only aerobic or under only anaerobic conditions. Two other strains, CGC023 and CGD052, had similar anaerobic substrate utilization patterns, but CGD052 was able to use a slightly larger number of compounds for growth. These results show that R. palustris is far more versatile in terms of aromatic degradation than had been previously demonstrated. A mutant (CGA033) blocked in aerobic aromatic metabolism remained wild type with respect to anaerobic degradative abilities, indicating that separate metabolic pathways mediate aerobic and anaerobic breakdown of diverse aromatics. Another mutant (CGA047) was unable to grow anaerobically on either benzoate or 4-hydroxybenzoate, and these compounds accumulated in growth media when cells were grown on more complex aromatic compounds. This indicates that R. palustris has two major anaerobic routes for aromatic ring fission, one that passes through benzoate and one that passes through 4-hydroxybenzoate.

Aromatic metabolism by a 2,4-D degrading Arthrobacter sp.

A hypothesis that low molecular weight aromatic compounds, which occur naturally in the soil, may act as alternative substrates or inducers for the 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) degrading enzyme system of an Arthrobacter sp. and maintain this enzyme system in the absence of 2,4-D, was examined experimentally. In a nonmanometric resting cell experiment, the 2,4-D adapted Arthrobacter sp. rapidly degraded 6 of the 12 aromatic compounds tested, and these 6 compounds were tested further with 2 additional aromatic compounds in manometric experiments with 2,4-D grown and citrate-grown cells. Homogentisic acid and catechol were oxidized more rapidly by 2,4-D grown cells than by cells grown on citrate medium. Thus, these two compounds could serve as alternative substrates for the 2,4-D degrading enzyme system of the Arthrobacter sp. In further manometric experiments, the 2,4-D degrading enzyme system in cells adapted to 2,4-dichlorophenol, catechol, or sodium benzoate was not induced.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism in mullets, Chelon labrosus, treated by polychlorinated biphenyls.

Contamination of the ocean by hydrocarbons has become a major environmental problem. Consequently, it is not surprising that residues of potentially toxic xenobiotics, such as benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P), are present in marine species used as human food. The oxidative metabolism of aromatic hydrocarbons proceeds via intermediate arene oxides. Some of these metabolites are very reactive electrophiles and may interact with cellular macromolecules such as proteins, DNA and RNA. Thus, the ability of an organism to further metabolize arene oxides can be an important protective mechanism against the possible toxic effect of these molecules. The existence of hepatic cytochrome P-450 dependent monooxygenase activities in fish is now well established. The exposure of fish to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) increases both the monooxygenase activities and the total amount of cytochrome P-450 in the microsomal fractions of fish liver. The purpose of this study was to compare the toxication-detoxication balance in both control and PCB induced estuarine fish (Grey mullets).

Metabolic fate of aromatic amines in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

The postmitochondrial fraction of the digestive gland from the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis possesses FAD-containing monooxygenase (EC 1.14.38) but lacks cytochrome P-450 dependent benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase (EC 11.4.14.1). This is also evidenced by the ability of the mussel preparation to activate carcinogenic aromatic amines, but not carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene, to Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 mutagens. This metabolic activity is NADPH dependent. Mussel digestive gland postmitochondrial fraction also possesses the enzymes needed for the detoxicating part of the aromatic amine metabolism: UDP-glucuronyl transferase (EC 2.4.1.17) and β-glucuronidase (EC 3.2.1.31). Under the experimental conditions used here, this aromatic amine metabolic pathway converts up to 8% of 2-acetylamino(9-14C)fluorene, but not (G-3H)benzo(a)pyrene, to water soluble glucuronides. Glucuronic acid stimulates the formation of these glucuronides. The metabolites liberated from these glucuronides by the β-glucuronidase treatment could be converted to TA 98 strain mutagens by the carp liver postmitochondrial fraction, but not by the mussel's digestive gland preparation. The presence of such a selective potential for the bioactivation and detoxication of aromatic amines, and not polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in the marine invertebrate(s) may bring new insight to our understanding of the effects and the fate of carcinogens in the marine environment.

Fetal mouse susceptibility to transplacental lung and liver carcinogenesis by 3-methylcholanthrene: positive correlation with responsiveness to inducers of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism.

The role of metabolic activation of carcinogens in fetal tissue as a determinant of sensitivity in transplacental carcinogenesis was investigated in a pharmacogenetic experiment utilizing backcrosses of C57BL/6 (AhbAhb, responsive to induction of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism) and DBA/2 (AhdAhd, non-responsive) mice. Responsive (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 and non-responsive DBA mothers, all carrying both responsive (AhbAhd) and non-responsive (AhdAhd) fetuses, were given i.p. doses of the carcinogen 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) ranging from 5 to 175 mg/kg on gestation day 17. At 10 months of age the metabolic phenotype of each offspring was determined, and correlated with number of lung and liver tumors. Both male and female AhbAhd (responsive) offspring in most dose groups presented a consistent two- to three-fold higher incidence of lung tumors than did non-responsive AhdAhd littermates. The difference held for offspring of both (C57BL/6 X DBA)F1 and DBA mothers and it was of statistical significance for one or both sexes at most dosage levels. Hepatocellular tumors were also significantly more frequent in responsive male AhbAhd progeny of (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mothers than in non-responsive AhdAhd littermates. Progeny of the DBA mothers exhibited significantly more liver and lung tumors than did those of the (C57BL/6 X DBA/2)F1 mothers receiving the same dose. These results suggest that in this model system both maternal and fetal genotype for responsiveness to induction of aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism are important factors modulating fetal carcinogenic risk.

Effect of ellagic acid on hepatic and pulmonary xenobiotic metabolism in mice: studies on the mechanism of its anticarcinogenic action.

Our recent studies have shown that ellagic acid, a naturally occurring dietary plant phenol, protects BALB/c mice against 3-methylcholanthrene-induced skin tumorigenesis. To further elucidate the mechanism of the antineoplastic action of ellagic acid its effect on hepatic and pulmonary benzo[a]pyrene (BP) metabolism, cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases and glutathione S-transferase activities were studied in BALB/c mice. Chronic oral feeding of the compound in drinking water (0.3 mg/l for 16 weeks) or acute intraperitoneal administration (50 mg/kg for five consecutive days) of ellagic acid resulted in 20-25% decreases in hepatic and pulmonary cytochrome P-450 levels. Hepatic and pulmonary aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activities in both groups of ellagic acid-treated animals were 33-52% and 28-43% lower than their respective non-ellagic acid-treated controls. Hepatic as well as pulmonary aminopyrine N-demethylase and epoxide hydrolase activities were unchanged in both groups of ellagic acid-treated mice. Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity towards BP-4,5-oxide or 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrates was found to be enhanced 51-79% and 38-58% in both groups of animals. H.p.l.c. analysis of organic solvent-soluble metabolites of BP by liver and lung microsomes indicated a substantial inhibition of diol formation (including BP-7,8-diol), as well as of phenols and quinones. In liver, these inhibitory effects were more pronounced after oral feeding than after intraperitoneal administration. Our results indicate that both acute and chronic administration of ellagic acid inhibits BP metabolism and/or enhances glutathione S-transferase activity. Thus the modulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism by ellagic acid may be related to the anticarcinogenic effects of this compound.