Syn-diol Epoxides Research Articles

MAP kinases are essential for the benzo[a]pyrene metabolism in BEAS-2B cells

CNDO2 molecular orbital theoretical calculations performed on the anti and syn diolepoxides (1 and 2) of the potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene provide insight into the molecular structure and reactivity of these mutagenic and carcinogenic hydrocarbon metabolites. Hydrogen-bonded interaction between the 7-HO proton and the epoxide oxygen atom of 2 is shown to be absent in the normal semichair conformation of the tetrahydro ring, (H…O bond distance = 2.7 Å), but is energetically favored in a somewhat distorted puckered structure (H…O bond distance = 1.7 Å). Unexpectedly, internal H-bonding alters the relative electron density at C9 and C10, leading to prediction of the former as the more electrophilic center. Since all reactions of 2 take place exclusively at C10, transannular H-bonding is concluded not to contribute significantly to the structure of 2. Diolepoxide reactions with both weak and strong nucleophiles and with DNA are discussed and the mechanisms interpreted in terms of molecular structure as determined by the theoretical calculations.

ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of anti- and syn-Diol Epoxides of trans-4,5-Dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo(j)fluoranthene and trans-9,10-Dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo(j)fluoranthene.

The preparation of diastereomeric anti- and syn-epoxides of benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF) 4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiols is described. The anti-dio epoxides were prepared from the corresponding dihydrodiols by epoxidation with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. the isomeric syn-diol epoxides were synthesized by base-catalyzed (Amberlyte IRA-400) cyclization of the bromo triol derivatives wich in turn were prepared from the respective dihydrodiols by treatment with N-bromoacetamide in aqueous THF

The role of hydrogen bonding in some diol epoxides

The role of intramolecular hydrogen bonding in determining the properties of two diol epoxides of benzene has been investigated by means of ab-initio SCF calculations (Gaussian 70, STO-5G). These two systems were used as models for the syn and anti 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene, one or both of which are believed to be ultimate carcinogenic forms of benzo[a]pyrene. It was found that there is intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the syn diol epoxide of benzene, but not the anti isomer. This hydrogen bonding was shown to have the effect of facilitating the opening of the epoxide ring at either carbon, but particularly at C(1). These findings are fully consistent with the observed properties of the previously mentioned diol epoxides of benzo[a] pyrene and help to explain these properties.

Synthesis of the o-Quinones and Other Oxidized Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Implicated in Carcinogenesis

Efficient new syntheses of the o-quinone derivatives of benzo[a]pyrene (BPQ), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBAQ), and benz[a]anthracene (BAQ), implicated as active carcinogenic metabolites of the parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are reported. These PAH quinones also serve as starting compounds for the synthesis of the other active metabolites of these PAHs thought to be involved in their mechanism(s) of carcinogenesis. The latter include the corresponding o-catechols, trans-dihydrodiols, and the corresponding anti- and syn-diol epoxides.

Conformations of benzene- and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diol epoxides studied by density functional theory: ground states, transition states, dynamics, and solvent effects.

The (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-diol epoxides of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBPDE, 11,12-dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene) and the stereochemically corresponding benzene diol epoxides (BDE, 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzene) have been studied by density functional theory (DFT) to determine the structures, energies, dynamics, thermal properties, and solvent effects on the different conformers. The smaller BDE is used as a model compound for studies of transitions between diequatorial and diaxial conformations of the hydroxyl groups. It was found that DBPDE is distorted due to overcrowding in the fjord region and that the arene oxide prefers to be on the same side of the saturated ring as the distal ring ("in") in most stereoisomeric states. For the anti-diastereomer, a diequatorial orientation of the hydroxyl groups is preferred, while the orientation preference in the syn-diastereomer seems to depend on the solvent and the in/out conformation. Transition states for the interconversions between in and out conformations of DBPDE as well as between diequatorial and diaxial conformations on BDE have been found, and transition rates have been estimated by transition state theory. The barriers are found to be moderate, the highest being 9.6 kcal/mol. Solvent effects as well as zero-point vibrational energy and thermal effects were included and found to be significant in some cases. The results presented here are in agreement with previous experimental studies.

Synthesis of suspected carcinogenic metabolites of 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, a coal tar component implicated in causation of lung tumors.

High incidences of lung tumors were observed in mice fed coal tar in their diet. The principal component of tar that gives rise to DNA-bound adducts in mouse lung was identified as 7H-benzo[c]fluorene (BcF). We now report the synthesis of suspected active metabolites of BcF, specifically the trans-3,4-dihydrodiol of BcF (2), its likely proximate carcinogenic metabolite, and the corresponding anti- and syn-diol epoxides of BcF (3 and 4) in which the epoxide ring resides in the pseudobay region. The diol epoxide derivatives (3 and 4) are postulated to be ultimate carcinogenic metabolites of BcF that bind to DNA in mouse lung.

Catalytic activities of human alpha class glutathione transferases toward carcinogenic dibenzo[a,l]pyrene diol epoxides.

In this study, human glutathione transferases (GSTs) of alpha class have been assayed with the ultimate carcinogenic (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-diol epoxides (DEs) derived from the nonplanar dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBPDE) and the (+)-anti-diol epoxide of the planar benzo[a]pyrene [(+)-anti-BPDE] in the presence of glutathione (GSH). In all DEs, the benzylic oxirane carbon reacting with GSH, possess R-absolute configuration. GSTA1-1 demonstrated activity with all DEs tested whereas A2-2 and A3-3 only were active with the DBPDE enantiomers. With GSTA4-4, no detectable activity was observed. GSTA1-1 was found to be the most efficient enzyme and demonstrated a catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K(m)) of 464 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) with (+)-syn-DBPDE. This activity was about 7-fold higher than that observed with (-)-anti-DBPDE and more than 65-fold higher than previously observed with less complex fjord-region DEs. GSTA3-3 also demonstrated high k(cat)/K(m) with the DEs of DBP and a high preference for the (+)-syn-DBPDE enantiomer [190 vs 16.2 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) for (-)-anti-DBPDE]. Lowest k(cat)/K(m) value of the active enzymes was observed with GSTA2-2. In this case, 30.4 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) was estimated for (+)-syn-DBPDE and 3.4 mM(-)(1) s(-)(1) with (-)-anti-DBPDE. Comparing the activity of the alpha class GSTs with (-)-anti-DBPDE and (+)-anti-BPDE revealed that GSTA1-1 was considerable more active with the former substrate (about 25-fold). Molecular modeling studies showed that the H-site of GSTA1-1 is deeper and wider than that of GSTA4-4. This is mainly due to the changes of Ser212-->Tyr212 and Ala216-->Val216, which cause a shallower active site, which cannot accommodate large substrates such as DBPDE. The higher activity of GSTA1-1 with (+)-syn-DBPDE relative to (-)-anti-DBPDE is explained by the formation of more favorable interactions between the substrate and the enzyme-GSH complex. The presence of GSTA1-1 in significant amounts in human lung, a primary target tissue for PAH carcinogenesis, may be an important factor for the protection against the harmful action of this type of potent carcinogenic intermediates.

Effect of dietary soy protein isolate, genistein, and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate on DNA binding of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in mammary glands of CD rats.

We examined whether a soy protein isolate or one of its major components (genistein) influences the initiation stage of carcinogenesis via DNA binding studies of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in liver and mammary tissue of female CD rats. A semipurified high-fat diet (23.5% corn oil) containing the soy protein isolate (10%), genistein (111 ppm), or 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC) (5 ppm as selenium) as a positive control was fed to 6-week-old virgin female CD rats for 1 week before carcinogen treatment. Neither soy nor genistein affected the extent of DMBA-DNA binding in liver. In mammary tissue, 111 ppm genistein in the diet was more effective than the soy protein isolate, although the latter contains the same amount of genistein, mainly present as a glucoside conjugate. As shown before, p-XSC inhibited DMBA-DNA binding in mammary tissue. Total binding was inhibited because of reduced formation of three major adducts: anti-diol epoxide deoxyguanosine, syn-diol epoxide deoxyadenosine, and anti-diolepoxide deoxyadenosine. Thus, an additional experiment with 111 and 222 ppm of genistein was performed; 222 ppm genistein had a weaker effect than that observed for 111 ppm. Nevertheless, 111 ppm of genistein in the diet appears to inhibit the initiation phase of DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors and may partially account for the reported inhibitory effect of soy against DMBA-induced rat mammary tumors.

Differences in the catalytic efficiencies of allelic variants of glutathione transferase P1-1 towards carcinogenic diol epoxides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Previous studies have identified allelic variants of the human glutathione transferase (GST) Pi gene and showed that the two different encoded proteins with isoleucine (GSTP1-1/I-105) or valine (GSTP1-1/V-105) at position 105, respectively, differ significantly in their catalytic activities with model substrates. Moreover, recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated that individuals differing in the expression of these allelic variants also differ in susceptibility to tumour formation in certain organs, including such in which polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) may be etiological factors. In the present study the catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) of these GSTP1-1 variants were determined with a number of stereoisomeric bay-region diol epoxides, known as the ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolites of PAH, including those from chrysene, benzo[a]pyrene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene. In addition, GSTP1-1 mutants in which amino residue 105 is alanine (GSTP1-1/A-105) or tryptophan (GSTP1-1/W-105) have been constructed and characterized. GSTP1-1/V-105 was found to be more active than GSTP1-1/I-105 in conjugation reactions with the bulky diol epoxides of PAH, being up to 3-fold as active towards the anti- and syn-diol epoxide enantiomers with R-absolute configuration at the benzylic oxiranyl carbon. Comparing the four enzyme variants, GSTP1-1/A-105 generally demonstrated the highest kcat/Km value and GSTP1-1/W-105 the lowest with the anti-diol epoxides. A close correlation was observed between the volume occupied by the amino acid residue at position 105 and the value of kcat/Km. With the syn-diol epoxides, such a correlation was observed with alanine, valine and isoleucine, whereas tryptophan was associated with increased kcat/Km values. The mutational replacement of isoleucine with alanine or tryptophan at position 105 did not alter the enantio selectivity of the GSTP1-1 variants compared with the naturally occurring allelic variants GSTP1-1/I-105 and GSTP1-1/V-105. Since the amino acid at position 105 forms part of the substrate binding site (H-site) the effect of increasing bulkiness is expected to cause restricted access of the diol epoxide and proper alignment of the two reactants for efficient glutathionylation. In conclusion, the present study indicates that individuals who are homozygous for the allele GSTP1* B (coding for GSTP1-1/V-105) display a higher susceptibility to malignancy because of other factors than a decreased catalytic efficiency of GSTP1-1/V-105 in the detoxication of carcinogenic diol epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene or structurally related PAH.

Effect of naturally occurring coumarins on the formation of epidermal DNA adducts and skin tumors induced by benzo[a]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene in SENCAR mice.

Several naturally occurring coumarins previously found to be potent inhibitors of mouse hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and/or pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) were examined for their effects on formation of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) DNA adducts in mouse epidermis, as well as, their effects on skin tumor initiation by these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Bergamottin, a potent inhibitor of hepatic EROD, given topically 5 min prior to an initiating dose of B[a]P, significantly decreased total covalent binding of B[a]P to DNA in a dose-dependent manner 24 h after treatment. A dose of 400 nmol bergamottin reduced covalent binding of B[a]P by 72%. Coriandrin, at a dose of 400 nmol also significantly reduced total covalent binding of B[a]P by 59%. In addition, formation of the major (+)anti-B[a]P-diol epoxide-N2-dGuo adduct was selectively reduced by both of these coumarins. In contrast, bergamottin and coriandrin did not significantly decrease covalent binding of DMBA to epidermal DNA at doses of either 400 nmol or 800 nmol. Imperatorin and isopimpinellin, which are more potent inhibitors of hepatic PROD activity, significantly reduced overall binding of DMBA to epidermal DNA by 67% and 52%, respectively, when applied at doses of 400 nmol. These two coumarins also inhibited B[a]P-DNA adduct formation at similar doses but to a lesser extent. Imperatorin at a dose of 400 nmol dramatically decreased formation of covalent DNA adducts derived from both the anti and syn diol epoxides of DMBA. Bergamottin was a potent inhibitor of tumor initiation by B[a]P while coriandrin was less effective in this regard. Imperatorin was an effective inhibitor of skin tumor initiation by DMBA and also inhibited complete carcinogenesis by this PAH. At dose levels higher than those effective against DMBA, imperatorin also inhibited tumor initiation by B[a]P. The results demonstrate that several naturally occurring coumarins possess the ability to block DNA adduct formation and tumor initiation by PAHs such as B[a]P and DMBA. The mechanism for reduced DNA adduct formation and tumor initiation appears to involve inhibition of the P450s involved in the metabolic activation of these hydrocarbons. Finally, the differential effects of certain coumarins on B[a]P vs DMBA DNA adduct formation and tumor initiation may be useful for dissecting the role of specific cytochromes P450 in their metabolic activation.

Fluorine-substituted derivatives of the carcinogenic dihydrodiol and diol epoxide metabolites of 7-methyl-, 12-methyl- and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

Abstract Stereospecific syntheses of the trans-3,4-dihydrodiol metabolites of 9- and 10-fluoro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, -7-methylbenz[a]anthracene, and -12-methylbenz[a]anthracene are described. These dihydrodiols are putative proximate carcinogenic metabolites that undergo activation by the P-450 microsomal enzymes to ultimate carcinogenic anti- and syn-diol epoxide metabolites that bind to nucleic acids in vivo. Syntheses of several of the anti- diol epoxide metabolites are also described.

Analysis of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene-DNA adducts formed in SENCAR mouse epidermis by 32P-postlabeling.

The present study has analysed the DNA adducts formed in SENCAR mouse epidermis following topical application of 7-methylbenz[a]anthracene (7-MBA). Mice were treated with 400 nmol of 7-MBA, which represents an initiating dose of this hydrocarbon for SENCAR mice. DNA adducts were analysed 24 h after topical application of the hydrocarbon by 32P-postlabeling coupled with either HPLC analysis or an improved TLC procedure giving better resolution of DNA adducts through the use of a D6 solvent [isopropanol:4N NH4OH (1:1)] following D5. Twenty-four hours after topical application of 400 nmol 7-MBA, the level of total covalent binding was 0.37 +/- 0.07 pmol/mg DNA as determined by 32P-postlabeling. This level of binding correlated well with the relative tumor initiating activity of this hydrocarbon compared to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (6.4 +/- 0.01 pmol/mg DNA) and dibenz[a,j]anthracene (0.03 +/- 0.01 pmol/mg DNA). Analysis of the 32P-labeled 3',5'-diphosphodeoxyribonucleosides by HPLC and TLC revealed the presence of deoxyguanosine (dGuo) and deoxyadenosine (dAdo) adducts formed from both the anti- and syn-bay-region diol-epoxides of 7-MBA (anti- and syn-7-MBADEs). The major DNA adduct derived from 7-MBA in mouse epidermis was tentatively identified as (+) anti-7-MBADE-trans-N2-dGuo. In addition, a minor dGuo adduct derived from the bay-region syn-diol-epoxide of 7-MBA was detected as well as a minor dAdo adduct from this diol-epoxide. Another minor dAdo adduct was also detectably present which arose from either the anti- or syn-diol epoxide. Furthermore, several unidentified DNA adducts were present in both HPLC and TLC chromatograms of DNA samples from 7-MBA-treated mice. These results are discussed in terms of the role of specific 7-MBA-DNA adducts in tumor initiation by this hydrocarbon.

Syntheses of “unstable” diol epoxide metabolites of the potent carcinogens 7- and 12-methylbenz[ a]anthracene

Stereospecific syntheses of the anti- and syn-diol epoxides of 7- and 12-methylbenz[ a]anthracene, suspected as active metabolites of the parent PAHs but previously thought to be too chemically reactive and unstable to isolate, are described and the pure compounds are shown to be moderately stable.

Generation of reactive oxygen species during the enzymatic oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon trans-dihydrodiols catalyzed by dihydrodiol dehydrogenase.

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DD; EC 1.3.1.20) catalyzes the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) trans-dihydrodiols (proximate carcinogens) to catechols which rapidly autoxidize to yield o-quinones (Smithgall, T. E., Harvey, R. G., and Penning, T. M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem 263, 1814-1820). Although this pathway suppresses the formation of the PAH anti- and syn-diol epoxides (ultimate carcinogens), the process of autoxidation is anticipated to yield reactive oxygen species (ROS). We now show that the NADP+ dependent oxidation of (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (Npdiol) and (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (Bpdiol) catalyzed by homogeneous DD is accompanied by the consumption of molecular oxygen and the production of H2O2. With both trans-dihydrodiol substrates, oxygen consumption was stoichiometric with H2O2 production consistent with the reaction: QH2 + O2 = H2O2 + Q, where QH2 is the catechol and Q is the o-quinone. Using Npdiol or Bpdiol as substrates, a burst of superoxide anion production is catalyzed by DD which can be detected as the rate of cyt c reduction that is inhibited by superoxide dismutase. Using 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) as spin-trapping agent, secondary spin adducts corresponding to DMPO-CH3 were formed during the enzymatic oxidation of Npdiol and Bpdiol. The formation of the CH3. radical arises from the OH. attack of DMSO, which was used as cosolvent. These spin adducts were attenuated by superoxide dismutase and catalase, implying that O2-. and H2O2 are obligatory for the formation of DMPO-CH3. It is proposed that O2-. is the radical that propagates autoxidation and that the resultant H2O2 undergoes Fenton chemistry to produce the OH. radical. Identical spin adducts were observed using a superoxide anion generating system (hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase) and DMPO as spin-trapping agent in the presence of DMSO. The ability of DD to generate ROS during the oxidation of PAH trans-dihydrodiols (proximate carcinogens) may have important implications for tumor initiation and promotion.

Glutathione S-transferase A1-1-catalysed conjugation of bay and fjord region diol epoxides or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with glutathione.

Mammalian metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons results in the formation of vicinal diol epoxides (existing as enantiomeric pairs of two diastereomers) considered as important ultimate carcinogens if the oxirane ring is located in a bay or fjord region of the parent hydrocarbon. In the present study, individual stereoisomers of the bay region diol epoxides of chrysene, dibenz[a,h]-anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene, as well as of the fjord region diol epoxides of benzo[c]phenanthrene, benzo[c]chrysene and benzo[g]chrysene, have been incubated with glutathione (GSH) in the presence or absence of human glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme GST A1-1, a class Alpha enzyme. The formation of GSH conjugates was determined and quantified by HPLC. The results demonstrate that the GST A1-1 isoenzyme catalyzes the formation of GSH conjugates of all diol epoxides tested, although a marked variation in catalytic efficiency (>20-fold) was observed. With both bay and fjord region anti-diol epoxides a significant preference for conjugation of the enantiomer with the R configuration at the benzylic position of the oxirane ring was noted. Among the syn diastereomers of the fjord region diol epoxides a similar substrate enantioselectivity was noted, i.e. the enantiomer with the corresponding R configuration was again preferentially conjugated. In contrast, for the bay region syn-diol epoxides this substrate selectivity was reversed, resulting in a preference for the enantiomer with the S configuration. The chemically more reactive syn diastereomers were in general better substrates for GST A1-1 than the corresponding anti diastereomers. However, a comparison between different diol epoxide diastereomers revealed no obvious correlation between chemical reactivity of the compounds and catalytic efficiencies. Furthermore, no significant correlation between diol epoxide lipophilicity and catalytic efficiency was observed. It is suggested that stereochemical factors, including the size and the geometry of the aromatic ring system and the preferred conformation of the diol epoxide, are involved as the major determinant for the rate of catalysis by GST A1-1.

Identification of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione as an authentic metabolite of (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DD) has been shown to catalyze the oxidation of (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo [a]pyrene (BP-diol) to yield benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione (BPQ) in uninduced fortified rat liver S100 fractions but the formation of BPQ has not been observed in whole cells. In these studies [3H]BP-diol was incubated with isolated hepatocytes from uninduced rats for 0-20 min at 37 degrees C. Organic-extractable radioactivity in the cell media accounted for 20% of the total [3H]BP-diol added. Reverse phase (RP)-HPLC analysis of this fraction revealed the formation of an unknown metabolite that co-chromatographed with an authentic synthetic standard of BPQ. The identity of the unknown metabolite was further established by: (i) co-chromatography with synthetic BPQ under both RP- and normal phase-HPLC conditions using diode array detection, which indicated that metabolite shared UV/vis spectral identity with standard BPQ; and by (ii) electron impact mass spectrometry of the unknown metabolite which gave the same parent and fragment ions as the synthetic standard. The formation of BPQ by isolated hepatocytes was found to be 0.50 nmol/3 x 10(6) cells/10 min, and represented 7% of the total organic-soluble metabolites in the extracellular media. Its formation was abolished by the addition of indomethacin, a competitive inhibitor of DD, indicating that this enzyme was responsible for BPQ formation. Other organic-soluble metabolites formed corresponded to BP-tetraols (hydrolysis products of the anti- and syn-diol epoxides). Examination of the aqueous phase of the extracellular media indicated that a large portion of BP-diol was converted to glucuronide and sulfate conjugates. Under the conditions employed BP-tetraols and BPQ were formed to an equal extent implying that in hepatocytes isolated from uninduced rats, DD and CYP1A1 contributed equally to the metabolism of BP-diol.

Synthesis of the active dihydrodiol and diol epoxide metabolites of the steroid-related carcinogen 15,16-dihydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthrene and its 11-methyl derivative

Cyclopenta[a]phenanthrenes are a class of environmentally occurring carcinogens that are structurally related to sterols. While the parent hydrocarbon is biologically inactive, its 11-methyl and 17-keto derivatives are relatively potent carcinogens. Recent research has identified trans-3,4-dihydrodiol metabolites as the metabolic precursors of the corresponding anti- and/or syn-diol epoxides, implicated as the ultimate carcinogenic forms that bind to DNA. We report the synthesis of the trans-3,4-dihydrodiol derivatives of cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene and 11-methylcyclopenta[a]phenanthrene, respectively, and the corresponding anti- and syn-diol epoxides of each of these hydrocarbons

Synthesis of the trans-3,4-dihydrodiol metabolites of the steroid-related carcinogen 15,16-dihydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-17-one and its 11-methyl derivative

Cyclopenta[a]phenanthrenes are a unique class of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons that are structurally relallad to steroids. Optimum tumorigenic activity is ansociated with a methyl group in the 11-position and a keto group in the 17-position. Syntheses of the putative active trans-3,4-dihydrodiol and anti- and syn-diol epoxide metabolites of cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene and its 11-methyl derivative are described in the preceding paper. This paper reports the syntheses of the analogous trans-3,4-dihydrodiol derivatives of these same hydrocarbons with a 17-carbonyl function

HPLC separation of 32P-postlabelled DNA adducts formed from dibenz[ a, h]anthracene in skin

Mouse skin and human skin have been treated in vivo or in short- term organ culture with dibenz[ a,h]anthracene (DB[ a,h]A), the related 3,4- or 5,6-diols or the anti- or syn-3,4-diol 1,2-oxides. DNA hydrolysates have been 32P-postlabelled and the adducts present examined by HPLC using a phenyl-modified reverse phase column and, for comparison, by PEI-cellulose TLC and autoradiography. The adducts formed when the diol-epoxides were reacted with salmon sperm DNA were also examined. The results show that in mouse skin treated in vivo, the major adducts formed from DB[ a,h]A and the 3,4-diol were the same and that two of them were more polar than those formed in skin or in DNA that had been treated with the related anti-or syn-diol epoxides. Human skin treated with DB[a,h]A in culture yielded an adduct profile that was qualitatively similar to the profiles obtained with mouse skin.

Synthesis of anti- and syn- diol epoxides of trans-4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene and trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[j]fluoranthene

The preparation of diastereomeric anti- and syn-epoxides of benzo[j]fluoranthene (BjF) 4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiols is described. The anti-dio epoxides were prepared from the corresponding dihydrodiols by epoxidation with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. the isomeric syn-diol epoxides were synthesized by base-catalyzed (Amberlyte IRA-400) cyclization of the bromo triol derivatives wich in turn were prepared from the respective dihydrodiols by treatment with N-bromoacetamide in aqueous THF