Formation Of Diol Epoxides Research Articles

Quantitation of enantiomers of r-7,t-8,9,c-10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-pyrene in human urine: evidence supporting metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene via the bay region diol epoxide.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a potent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogen, is widely distributed in the human environment. All humans are exposed to BaP through the diet and contact with the general environment; cigarette smokers have higher exposure. An important pathway of BaP metabolism proceeds through formation of diol epoxides including the 'bay region diol epoxide' 7R,8S-dihydroxy-9S,10R-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene [BaP-(7R,8S)-diol-(9S,10R)-epoxide] and the 'reverse diol epoxide' 9S,10R-dihydroxy-7R,8S-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo [a]pyrene [BaP-(9S,10R)-diol-(7R,8S)-epoxide]. The bay region diol epoxide is considered a major ultimate carcinogen of BaP based on studies in cell culture and laboratory animals, but the available data in humans are less convincing. The bay region diol epoxide and the reverse diol epoxide react with H2O to produce enantiomeric BaP-tetraols that are excreted in the urine. We used chiral stationary-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionisation-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify these enantiomeric BaP-tetraols in the urine of 25 smokers and 25 non-smokers. The results demonstrated that the BaP-tetraol enantiomer representing the carcinogenic bay region diol epoxide pathway accounted for 68±6% (range 56-81%) of total BaP-tetraol in smokers and 64±6% (range 46-78%) in non-smokers. Levels of the major BaP-tetraol enantiomer decreased by 75% in smokers who quit smoking. These data provide convincing evidence in support of the bay region diol epoxide mechanism of BaP carcinogenesis in humans.

Mechanisms of oral carcinogenesis induced by dibenzo[a,l]pyrene: An environmental pollutant and a tobacco smoke constituent

We previously reported that dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), the most potent known environmental carcinogen among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) congeners, is carcinogenic in the oral tissues of mice. We have now developed a new mouse model which employs the oral application of the fjord region diol epoxide, (±)-anti-11,12-dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]PDE), a metabolite of the tobacco smoke constituent DB[a,l]P, and we show its specific induction of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in both tongue and other oral tissues. Groups of B6C3F1 mice (20/group) received 6 or 3 nmol of (±)-anti-DB[a,l]PDE administered into the oral cavity; 3 times per week for 38 weeks. Additional groups received the vehicle alone or were left untreated. Mice were sacrificed 42 weeks after the first carcinogen administration. The high dose induced 74 and 100% OSCC in the tongue and other oral tissues, respectively; the corresponding values at the lower dose were 45 and 89%. Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that DB[a,l]PDE resulted in overexpression of p53 and COX-2 proteins in malignant tissues when compared to normal oral tissues and tongues. Consistent with the carcinogenicity, we demonstrated powerful mutagenicity in cII gene in B6C3F1 (Big Blue) mouse tongue. The mutational profile in lacI reporter gene is similar to those detected in human head and neck cancer, and p53 mutations were observed in mouse oral tumor tissues. Taken together, we conclude that the formation of diol epoxides plays a major role among the mechanisms by which DB[a,l]P exerts its oral mutagenicity and tumorigenicity.

Immediate consequences of cigarette smoking: rapid formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are among the likely major causative agents for lung cancer in smokers. PAH require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects, and one important pathway proceeds through a three-step sequence resulting in the formation of diol epoxides, which react with DNA to produce adducts that can cause mutations and initiate the carcinogenic process. However, no previous published studies have examined this critical pathway in humans specifically exposed to PAH by inhalation of cigarette smoke. This study used a unique approach employing a stable isotope derivative of phenanthrene, the simplest PAH with a bay region, a feature closely associated with PAH carcinogenicity. Twelve subjects each smoked a cigarette to which [D(10)]phenanthrene had been added. Plasma was analyzed for [D(10)]r-1,t-2,3,c-4-tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene ([D(10)]PheT), the major end product of the diol epoxide metabolism pathway of phenanthrene. The analysis was performed by gas chromatography--negative ion chemical ionization--tandem mass spectrometry, using [(13)C(6)]PheT as internal standard. The results demonstrated that the three-step pathway resulting in the formation of diol epoxides, as monitored by [D(10)]PheT, occurred with remarkable rapidity. Levels of [D(10)]PheT in plasma of all subjects were maximal at the earliest time points examined, 15-30 min after smoking the cigarette containing [D(10)]phenanthrene, and decreased thereafter. These results demonstrate that the formation of a PAH diol epoxide occurs rapidly in smokers. Because PAH diol epoxides are mutagenic and carcinogenic, the results clearly demonstrate immediate negative health consequences of smoking, which should serve as a major warning to anyone contemplating initiating tobacco use.

Abstract CN07-02: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon tetraols: Potential phenotypic indicators of lung cancer susceptibility in smokers

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are believed to be among the major causative agents for lung cancer in smokers. PAH require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects, and one important pathway proceeds through a three-step metabolic sequence resulting in the formation of diol epoxides which react with DNA producing adducts that can cause mutations and initiate the carcinogenic process. Many studies demonstrate wide interindividual differences in PAH metabolism. Our working hypothesis is that individuals who metabolically activate PAH by the diol epoxide pathway more extensively will be at higher risk for lung cancer than those who are less proficient. We have used a phenotyping approach to investigate this hypothesis. In this approach, we use gas chromatographytandem mass spectrometry to quantify PAH tetraols, the major end products of the diol epoxide metabolic activation pathway, in plasma or urine. In one recent nested case-control study of 475 lung cancer cases and 475 controls, all smokers, in the Shanghai Cohort Study of over 18,000 men, we demonstrated a significant relationship to lung cancer of urinary levels of r,1-t-2,3,c-4-tetrahydroxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrophenanthrene (PheT), the major end product of the diol epoxide pathway of phenanthrene, the simplest PAH with a bay region, a feature closely associated with carcinogenicity. With advances in mass spectrometry, we are now able to directly assess levels of tetraols resulting from diol epoxide formation from the prototypic carcinogenic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene. These studies demonstrated higher levels of this tetraol in the urine of smokers than non-smokers. Our approach to individual phenotyping of smokers uses a stable isotope labeled PAH, [D10]phenanthrene. Smokers either use cigarettes to which [D10]phenanthrene has been added, or take the substance orally. Plasma and urine are analyzed for the tetraol, [D10]PheT, the major end product of the diol epoxide metabolism pathway of phenanthrene. The results of these ongoing studies show a large interindividual variation in [D10]PheT production and demonstrate that this approach is feasible for identifying those individuals who extensively metabolize phenanthrene. These studies also showed for the first time that the three-step pathway resulting in formation of diol epoxides, as monitored by [D10]PheT, occurred with remarkable rapidity in all subjects. Levels of [D10]PheT in plasma of all subjects were maximal 15-30 min after smoking a cigarette containing [D10]phenanthrene, and decreased thereafter. These results demonstrate that the formation of a PAH diol epoxide occurs rapidly in smokers. Since PAH diol epoxides are mutagenic and carcinogenic, the results clearly demonstrate immediate negative health consequences of smoking which should serve as a major warning to anyone contemplating initiating tobacco use. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):CN07-02.

New Biomarkers of Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are metabolized in a complex manner. Although biological activity is associated with diol-epoxide formation, phenolic metabolites have predominantly been used in human biomonitoring. In this study monohydroxylated and new metabolites were characterized as biomarkers for occupational PAH exposure. In 97 male workers, personal exposure to 16 airborne PAH compounds was measured during shift. In postshift urine, 1-hydroxypyrene and 1,6- and 1,8-dihydroxypyrene (1-OHP, DiOHP) were determined as metabolites of pyrene (P), and the sum of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 9-hydroxyphenanthrenes (OHPHE), and PHE-dihydrodiols (PHED) as metabolites of phenanthrene (PHE). The referent group comprised 21 nonsmoking construction workers. Median (interquartile range) shift concentrations of airborne P and PHE were 1.46 (0.62–4.05 μg/m3) and 10.9 (3.69–23.77 μg/m3), respectively. The corresponding parameters were 3.86 (2.08–7.44) μg/g creatinine (crn) for 1-OHP, 0.66 (0.17–1.65) μg/g crn for DiOHP, 11.44 (5.21–34.76) μg/g crn for OHPHE, and 12.28 (3.3–97.76) μg/g crn for PHED in PAH-exposed workers. The median levels of 1-OHP and OHPHE were 0.09 (0.08–0.17 μg/m3) and 0.59 (0.45–1.39 μg/m3), respectively, in the referents. PHE correlated significantly with OHPHE and PHED, and P with 1-OHP but not with DiOHP. Under a doubling of PHE, OHPHE increased by a factor of 1.56 and PHED by 1.57. With a doubling of P, 1-OHP rose by 1.31 and DiOHP by 1.27. P is predominantly metabolized into 1-OHP, whereas PHE is metabolized equally into OHPHE and PHED. Thus metabolites of PHE were found as reliable biomarkers for PAH exposure.

Differential metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by human CYP1A1 variants.

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) plays a key role in the metabolism of carcinogens, such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and metabolites to ultimate carcinogens. Three human allelic variants, namely wild-type (CYP1A1.1), CYP1A1.2 (I462V) and CYP1A1.4 (T461N), were coexpressed by coinfection of baculovirus-infected insect cells with human NADPH-P450 reductase. These recombinant enzymes (in microsomal membranes) were used to analyze whether CYP1A1 polymorphisms affect catalytic activities towards B[a]P and B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol. The complete spectrum of phase I metabolites, including the tetrahydrotetrols resulting from hydrolysis of the ultimate carcinogen, B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, was examined by HPLC. Wild-type enzyme showed the highest total metabolism of B[a]P, CYP1A1.2 was approximately 50%, and CYP1A1.4 approximately 70%. Km values for all metabolites with CYP1A1.2 were generally significantly lower than with wild-type enzyme (e.g. B[a]P-7,8-diol formation: 13.8 microM for wild-type, 3.5 microM for CYP1A1.2 and 7.7 microM for CYP1A1.4). Addition of epoxide hydrolase markedly increases the relative diol-to-phenol activities by all three variants. However, CYP1A1.4 exhibits the greatest efficiency to produce diol species. Each variant produced the diol epoxides from B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol. CYP1A1.1 exhibited with 10.4 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1 the greatest total rate for 7,8-diol metabolites followed by CYP1A1.2 (7.2 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1) and CYP1A1.4 (5.5 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1). All enzyme variants produced about three times more diol epoxide 2-derived metabolites than diol epoxide 1-derived ones, whereby both rare allelic variants exhibited statistically significantly increased formation of diol epoxide 2. This study showed that the three CYP1A1 variants had different enzyme kinetics properties to produce both the diol metabolites from B[a]P and the ultimate mutagenic species diol epoxide 2 from B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol, which must be considered in the evaluation of individual susceptibility to cancer.

Effect of 7-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene on Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolism and Formation of DNA Adducts

Abstract Two major pathways are responsible for the metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and other aromatic hydrocarbons, one leading to radical cations and the other to diol epoxides. It has been suggested that 7-hydroxyBP (7-OHBP) might inhibit formation of diol epoxides. We have examined the effect of various concentrations of 7-OHBP on the cytochrome P450-catalyzed metabolism of BP, total DNA binding and formation of BP-DNA adducts. Metabolism of BP was not significantly affected by 7-OHBP. Both total BP-DNA binding and stable DNA adducts, as measured by the 32P-postlabeling method, were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner, ranging from 25% to 72% inhibition for binding and 23% to 85% for adducts at 7-OHBP:BP ratios of 0.1 to 1.0. Formation of the depurination adducts of BP was inhibited 67% to 100% at a molar ratio of 1:0.25 (BP:7-OHBP), whereas none of the depurination adducts were detected at a molar ratio of 1:0.5 (BP:7-OHBP). These results suggest that 7-OHBP is not a selective inhibitor of the BP diol epoxide pathway, but a potent inhibitor of total DNA adduct formation.

Metabolism of benz[a]anthracene by human liver microsomes.

The metabolism of benz[a]anthracene (BA) by human hepatic microsomes was investigated. Only dihydrodiols were observed when BA was the substrate. No tetrahydrotetrols were detected, indicating lack of diol epoxide formation. The BA-dihydrodiols identified by GCMS analysis and comparison to authentic standards were BA-8,9-dihydrodiol (42.4% of total metabolites), BA-5,6-dihydrodiol (25%), BA-10,11-dihydrodiol (24.8%), BA-3,4-dihydrodiol (5.3%), and BA-1,2-dihydrodiol (< 1.5%). BA-dihydrodiols were also used individually as substrates. Only BA-1,2-dihydrodiol, the least abundant isomer produced from BA, was converted efficiently to a tetrahydrotetrol (> 72% conversion). BA-10,11-dihydrodiol was converted to BA-8,9,10,11-tetrahydrotetrols in < 12% yield. BA-10,11- and BA-3,4-dihydrodiols were not converted to tetrahydrotetrols.

Activation of trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-aminochrysene to genotoxic metabolites by rat and human cytochromes P450.

In order to address the hypothesis that 6-aminochrysene (6-AC) is converted to genotoxic products by cytochrome P450 enzymes via two activation pathways (N-hydroxylation and epoxidation), the activation of 6-AC and trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-aminochrysene (6-AC-diol) to genotoxic metabolites was examined in rat and human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes using Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 and TA1535/pSK1002/pNM12 (NM2009) as tester strains. The latter bacteria, an O-acetyltransferase-overexpressing strain, was highly sensitive to metabolites derived from activation of 6-AC, but not those from 6-AC-diol, using liver microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats or a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing P4502B1 or -2B2, thus suggesting the roles of P450 and acetyltransferase systems in the activation process. 6-AC-diol, on the other hand, was activated very efficiently by liver microsomes prepared from beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats or a reconstituted system containing P4501A1 or -1A2; the activation reaction is considered to proceed through diol-epoxide formation. The contribution of rat P4501A enzymes towards activation of 6-AC-diol was confirmed by the inhibitory effects on the activation process of alpha-naphthoflavone, a specific inhibitor of P4501A-related activities, and antibodies raised against purified P4501A1 and -1A2. In humans, P4501A2 was found to be the major enzyme involved in the activation of 6-AC-diol to genotoxic metabolites while the parent compound 6-AC was activated mainly by P4503A4. Experiments using recombinant P450 proteins expressed in human lymphoblastoid cell lines showed that human P4501A1 could also activate 6-AC-diol to reactive metabolites at almost the same rate measured with P4501A2. In addition, P4502B6 was found to efficiently catalyze the activation of 6-AC to genotoxic metabolites, and P4503A4 was active in the activation of 6-AC-diol as well as 6-AC. Addition of purified rat epoxide hydrolase to the incubation mixture containing purified rat P4501A1 or microsomes expressing human P4501A1 caused inhibition of activation of 6-AC-diol. These results suggest the existence of different enzymatic activation pathways for 6-AC and 6-AC-diol. The former carcinogen may be N-hydroxylated principally by P4502B enzymes in rats and P4503A4 and -2B6 in humans and activation to its ultimate metabolites may proceed through esterification of the N-hydroxy metabolites by an N-acetyltransferase. The 6-AC-diol is metabolized to its ultimate diolepoxide product by P4501A enzymes in rat and human liver microsomes. P4503A4 (humans) and P4503A2 (rats) may also contribute to some extent in the activation of 6-AC-diol, albeit at lower rates than those of P4501A enzymes.

The Catalytic Activity of Four Expressed Human Cytochrome P450s Towards Benzo[a]pyrene and the Isomers of Its Proximate Carcinogen

The catalytic properties of expressed human cytochromes P4501A1, 1A2, 3A4 and 3A5 with respect to the metabolite distribution for the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and the proximate carcinogen (−)- trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene ((−)-BP-7,8-DHD) were determined. P4501A1 fonned a higher proportion of the proximate carcinogen from BP than the other isozymes. Both P4501A1 and 1A2 were more selective for oxidation at the benzo ring of BP and showed a greater production of dihydrodiol rnetabolites than either P4503A4 or 3A5. The formation of diolepoxides from the individual enantiomers of BP-7,8-DHD occurred in a highly stereoselective fashion.

Comparative DNA binding of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and their dihydrodiol and bay region diolepoxide metabolites in newborn mouse lung and liver

Bay region diolepoxides of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generally are more tumorigenic than their parent PAHs in newborn mice. This contrasts to the results obtained in mouse skin, in which the same diolepoxides are frequently less tumorigenic than their parents. In order to evaluate mechanism(s) responsible for this behavior we have investigated the binding of metabolites of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]), [3H]5- and [3H6]6-methyl-chrysene (5-MeC and 6-MeC) and their corresponding dihydrodiols and bay region diolepoxides to pulmonary and hepatic DNA in male and female newborn mice and compared the results with their tumorigenic activities. Groups of 1 day old mice were treated with 0.4 or 4 nmol of the appropriate compounds in DMSO by i.p. injection. HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates obtained 24 h after treatment indicated that levels of diolepoxide-DNA adducts following treatment with (+-)-[3H]7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydroB[a]P and (+-)-[3H]anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroB[a] P are 5- and 10-fold higher than those formed from [3H]B[a]P. The major products (70-80%) released upon enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA following treatment with [3H]B[a]P, [3H]5-MeC and [3H]6-MeC were unidentified polar compounds. Levels of these unknown products were lower and formation of diolepoxide--DNA adducts higher when test compounds were changed from parent PAHs to the corresponding dihydrodiols and diolepoxides. Comparison of these results with those of tumorigenesis studies indicates a correlation between formation of B[a]P-diolepoxide--DNA adducts and induction of tumors in newborn mouse lung, but not in liver. These observations are consistent with the high sensitivity of the newborn mouse lung towards the tumorigenic effects of bay region diolepoxides. Previous studies have demonstrated that 1R,2S-dihydroxy-3S,4R,epoxy, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC (5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide) is a potent lung tumorigen while the corresponding diol-epoxide of 6-MeC had no effect in newborn mice. From the results of the present study, we estimate that at equimolar doses the formation of diolepoxide--DNA adducts from 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide would be at least 20-fold greater than from the corresponding diolepoxide of 6-MeC in newborn mouse lung. Thus, the higher tumorigenic activity of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide compared to that of the corresponding diol epoxide of 6-MeC is partially due to its greater extent of DNA damage.

Bacterial mutagenicity of new cyclopenta-fused cata-annelated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and identification of the major metabolites of benz[ j]acephenanthrylene formed by Aroclor-treated rat liver microsomes

Three novel cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were synthesized, benz[ d]aceanthrylene,benz[ k]aceanthrylene, and benz[ j] acephenanthrylene, and evaluated for mutagenic activity in the Ames Salmonella typhimurium plate incorporation assay. The two benzaceanthrylene derivatives were active at low S9 concentrations in strain TA98 (4 and 27 rev/nmole respectively), as had been predicted from the calculated ΔE deloc/ β values of the carbocations derived from opening of the cyclopenta-fused epoxide rings, but the majority of this mutagenicity appeared to be due to free-radical decomposition products of spontaneous endo-peroxide formation. These compounds were therefore not further investigated. Benz[ j]acephenanthrylene was also an indirect-acting frameshift mutagen (8–12 rev/nmole in strain TA98), but unlike most of the previously assayed cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibited no peak of activity at low S9 protein concentration. The principal metabolites formed from this compound by microsomes from Aroclor-treated rat liver were benz[ j]acephenanthrylene-4,5-dihydro-4,5-diol (necessarily derived from hydration of benz[ j]acephenanthrylene 4,5- oxide) and benz[ j]acephenanthrylene-9,10-dihydro-9,10-diol (precursor to benz[ j]acephenanthrylene-9,10-dihydrodiol 7,8-oxide, the bay-region diol-epoxide). Consideration of the reduced activity of this compound compared to the related structure chrysene, the S9 dependence curves, and the predicted ΔE deloc/ β values of the postulated active species, suggests that in contrast to most other cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, bay-region diol-epoxide formation plays a greater role than epoxidation of the cyclopenta-fused ring in the metabolic activation of benz[ j]acephenanthrylene.

Peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of (bi)sulfite: reaction of free radical metabolites of (bi)sulfite with (+/-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7, 8-dihydroxy[a]pyrene.

The peroxidase-catalyzed metabolism of (bi)sulfite (hydrated sulfur dioxide) in the presence of (+/-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BP-7,8-diol) was examined. Both horseradish peroxidase and prostaglandin peroxidase catalyze the one-electron oxidation of (bi)sulfite. This results in the formation of a sulfur trioxide radical anion which then reacts with molecular oxygen to form a peroxyl radical. This (bi)sulfite-derived peroxyl radical then reacts with BP-7,8-diol to form BP-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxides, the ultimate carcinogenic form of benzo[a]pyrene (BP). Addition of (bi)sulfite to incubations containing BP-7,8-diol and an active peroxidase resulted in significantly increased levels of BP diol-epoxide formation. This result may, in part, explain the reported co-carcinogenic effect of sulfur dioxide on BP-induced tumors in the respiratory tracts of rats and hamsters. The sulfur trioxide radical anion also reacts directly with BP-7,8-diol to form a sulfonate adduct. This reaction was particularly significant under conditions where molecular oxygen was depleted from the incubations. While the significance of this particular adduct is not known, its formation suggests that the sulfur trioxide radical anion generated during the peroxidase-catalyzed oxidation of (bi)sulfite could react with a wide assortment of compounds to form sulfonate adducts.

Product inhibition of benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in uninduced rat liver microsomes: Effect of diol epoxide formation

Conversion of benzo[ a]pyrene (BP) to BP 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-oxides (DE) (measured as 7,10/8,9-tetrols) by untreated (UT) rat liver microsomes is over 10 times slower than following 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induction. Time courses have been subjected to a kinetic analysis analogous to that previously reported for metabolism by MC-induced microsomes (J. Biol. Chem., 259 (1984) 13770–13776). Competition between BP and 7,8-dihydrodiol for P-450 is the major determinant of the rate of DE formation. Glucuronidation of quinones and phenols only increases the isolated BP metabolites including DE by 40%. This indicates far less inhibition by these products than for metabolism in MC-microsomes (4–6-fold). Thus stimulation may result from a decreased quinone-mediated oxidation of metabolites. In the presence of DNA, UT-microsomes metabolize BP to approximately equal amounts of 9-phenol-4,5-oxide (9-PO) and DE/DNA adducts. Addition of uridine diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDPGA) fails to enhance modification of DNA by DE, but formation of the 9-PO adduct is reduced as a result of lower free 9-phenol levels. The kinetic characteristics of BP metabolism by UT-microsomes are highly sensitive to the presence of very small but variable amounts (2–25 pmol/mg) of the very active cytochrome P-450 c, which is the predominant form in MC-microsomes. The major effect of elevated levels of P-450 c is an 8-fold increase in DE formation at low concentrations of BP due to a lowering of K m (7.9–2.6 μM) and an increase in the regioselectivity for DE formation from 7,8-dihydrodiol (5–15% of total BP metabolites). The formation of DE was directly correlated with the content of P-450 c ( r = 0.94). The presence of increased levels of P-450 c in UT-microsomes is probably due to previous exposure of the animals to environmental inducers and is minimized by controlled housing and feeding.

Oxidation of (+)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene by mouse keratinocytes: evidence for peroxyl radical- and monoxygenase-dependent metabolism

The role of prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase and peroxyl radicals as well as cytochrome P-450 in the metabolism of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BP-7,8-diol) was examined in fresh skin keratinocytes isolated from hairless mice. Labeled (+)-BP-7,8-diol was oxidized after incubation with the keratinocytes to syn- and anti-diolepoxides in greater than a 4:1 ratio as estimated by h.p.l.c. analysis of the stable hydrolysis products. Formation of diolepoxides was dependent on cell number and the concentration of BP-7,8-diol. Incubation in the presence of the PGH synthase substrate, 20:4 or the inhibitor, indomethacin did not alter the total formation or the ratio of diolepoxides. However, the addition of butylated hydroxyanisole (1 micron) an inhibitor of peroxyl radical dependent-metabolism significantly inhibited diolepoxide formation. The time course for the formation of the anti-diolepoxide and lipid peroxidation, measured as malondialdehyde was determined. The results suggest an excellent correlation between peroxyl radical and diolepoxide formation. Pretreatment of mice with the cytochrome P-450 inducer, beta-naphthoflavone greatly altered the metabolism of (+)-BP-7,8-diol by keratinocytes. The major metabolite was the syn-diolepoxide with significant formation of two unknown metabolites. Pretreatment of mice with BP-7,8-diol did not induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity but did increase the yield of syn-diolepoxide formed from labeled (+)-BP-7,8-diol by 1.5-fold. Our results suggest that peroxyl radical-mediated metabolism is primarily responsible for the oxidation of (+)-BP-7,8-diol in control animals while the cytochrome P-450 system is primarily responsible for oxidation in animals pretreated with inducers.

The role of secondary metabolism in the metabolic activation of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene by rat liver microsomes.

The effect of induction by either phenobarbital (PB) or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) on the kinetics of both primary and secondary metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) have been studied. PB and MC induction stimulate the initial rate of total DMBA metabolism 4- and 8-fold, respectively. Individual metabolites exhibited distinct time courses dependent on the inducer. With both induced and uninduced microsomes, formation of DMBA 5,6-dihydrodiol exhibited a 2-5 min time lag before reaching a maximum rate while, in contrast, formation of 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7HOMMBA) declined substantially from linearity at a very early point in the reaction. This was most apparent after 2 min and total levels decreased after 5 min. Regioselectivity for both DMBA and 7HOMMBA were measured based on the initial rates of mono-oxygenation derived from these kinetics. In each set of microsomes, prior 7-hydroxylation redirected metabolism towards DMBA 3,4-dihydrodiol formation and away from 5,6-dihydrodiol. Large differences were noted for the effectiveness and regioselectivity of secondary metabolism via 7HOMMBA. MC-induced liver microsomes exhibited a stronger preference for secondary metabolism of 7HOMMBA than PB-induced and control microsomes. In all cases, 7HOMMBA dihydrodiols, formed from DMBA, appeared in the same ratio as when formed directly from 7HOMMBA, suggesting formation from 7HOMMBA rather than from 7-hydroxylation of primary dihydrodiols. The extent of secondary metabolism of primary products was calculated as the difference between the calculated formation (determined from the appropriate regioselectivity and DMBA disappearance) and the quantitated level at a particular reaction time. However, for MC-induced microsomes, quantitation of 7HOMMBA mono-oxygenated metabolites accounted for less than 50% of the calculated 7HOMMBA secondary metabolism. This discrepancy results from selective further oxidation of 7HOMMBA phenols. For control and PB-induced liver microsomes, quantitation of identifiable 7HOMMBA mono-oxygenated metabolites agreed well with calculated secondary 7HOMMBA metabolism. Based on the results presented here, factors that favor hydroxylation of PAH prior to bay-region diol-epoxide formation are discussed.

Metabolic activation of 3-methylcholanthrene in mouse skin: fluorescence spectral evidence indicates the involvement of diol-epoxides formed in the 7, 8, 9, 10-ring

Hydrolysates of DNA that had been isolated from mouse skin treated with 3H-labelled 3-methylcholanthrene were subjected to chromatography on Sephadex LH20 columns and 3H-labelled products that eluted in the region expected for nucleoside-hydrocarbon adducts were purified further by high pressure liquid chromatography; eight major and one minor products were resolved and their fluorescence spectra were determined using photon-counting spectrophotofluorimetry. The fluorescence spectra of six of the major products are anthracene-like and are similar to the previously-reported spectrum of 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-methylcholanthrene, a result that is consistent with metabolic activation involving diol-epoxide formation in the 7,8,9,10-ring of 3-methylcholanthrene. The fluorescence spectra of the other two major products are also anthracene-like, but their maxima are shifted to longer wavelengths relative to the maxima in the spectrum of 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-3-methylcholanthrene. The minor product possesses a fluorescence spectrum that is not anthracene-like and that is dissimilar from the spectra of products formed from 3-methylcholanthrene 11,12-oxide.

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene VI. Stereoselective metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol to diol epoxides

(±)-7β,8α-Dihydroxy-9β,10β-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (diol epoxide- 1) and (±)-7β,8α-dihydroxy-9α,10α-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (diol epoxide- 2) are highly mutagenic diol epoxide diastereomers that are formed during metabolism of the carcinogen (±)- trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene. Remarkable stereoselectivity has been observed on metabolism of the optically pure (+)- and (−)-enantiomers of the dihydrodiol which are obtained by separation of the diastereomeric diesters with (−)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid. The high stereoselectivity in the formation of diol epoxide- 1 relative to diol epoxide- 2 was observed with liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats and with a purified cytochrome P-448-containing monoxygenase system where the (−)-enantiomer produced a diol epoxide- 2 to diol epoxide- 1 ratio of 6 : 1 and the (+)-enantiomer produced a ratio of 1 : 22. Microsomes from control and phenobarbital-treated rats were less stereospecific in the metabolism of enantiomers of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol. The ratio of diol epoxide- 2 to diol epoxide- 1 formed from the (−)- and (+)-enantiomers with microsomes from control rats was 2 : 1 and 1 : 6, respectively. Both enantiomers of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol were also metabolized to a phenolic derivative, tentatively identified as 6,7,8-trihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, which accounted for ∼30% of the total metabolites formed by microsomes from control and phenobarbital-pretreated rats whereas this metabolite represents ∼5% of the total metabolites with microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats. With benzo[a]pyrene as substrate, liver microsomes produced the 4,5-, 7,8- and 9,10-dihydrodiol with high optical purity (>85%), and diol epoxides were also formed. Most of the optical activity in the BP 7,8-dihydrodiol was due to metabolism by the monoxygenase system rather than by epoxide hydrase, since hydration of (±)-benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-oxide by liver microsomes produced dihydrodiol which was only 8% optically pure. Thus, the stereospecificity of both the monoxygenase system and, to a lesser extent, epoxide hydrase plays important roles in the metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene to carcinogens and mutagens.