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Acrolein and higher alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes are bifunctional genotoxins. The deoxyguanosine adduct of acrolein, 3-(2-deoxy-beta-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxypyrimido[1,2-a]purin-10(3H)-one (8-hydroxy-1,N(2)-propanodeoxyguanosine, 2a), is a major DNA adduct formed by acrolein. The potential for oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes containing 2a to form interchain cross-links was evaluated by HPLC, CZE, MALDI-TOF, and melting phenomena. Interchain cross-links represent one of the most serious types of damage in DNA since they are absolute blocks to replication. In oligodeoxynucleotides containing the sequence 5'-dC-2a, cross-linking occurred in a slow, reversible manner to the extent of approximately 50%. Enzymatic digestion to form 3-(2-deoxy-beta-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-(N(2)-2'-deoxyguanosinyl)pyrimido[1,2-a]purin-10(3H)one (5a) and reduction with NaCNBH(3) followed by enzymatic digestion to give 1,3-bis(2'-deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)propane (6a) established that cross-linking had occurred with the exocyclic amino group of deoxyguanosine. It is concluded that the cross-link is a mixture of imine and carbinolamine structures. With oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes containing the sequence 5'-2a-dC, cross-links were not detected by the techniques enumerated above. In addition, (15)N-(1)H HSQC and HSQC-filtered NOESY spectra carried out with a duplex having (15)N-labeling of the target amino group established unambiguously that a carbinolamine cross-link was not formed. The potential for interchain cross-link formation by the analogous crotonaldehyde adduct (2b) was evaluated in a 5'-dC-2b sequence. Cross-link formation was strongly dependent on the configuration of the methyl group at C6 of 2b. The 6R diastereomer of 2b formed a cross-link to the extent of 38%, whereas the 6S diastereomer cross-linked only 5%.

A G to T mutation has been observed at the third position of codon 249 of the p53 tumor-suppressor gene in over 50% of the hepatocellular carcinoma cases associated with high exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Hypotheses have been put forth that AFB1, in concert with hepatitis B virus (HBV), may play a role in the formation of, and͞or the selection for, this mutation. The primary DNA adduct of AFB1 is 8,9-dihydro-8-(N 7 -guanyl)-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1 (AFB1-N7-Gua), which is converted naturally to two secondary lesions, an apurinic site and an AFB1-formamidopyrimidine (AFB1-FAPY) adduct. AFB1-FAPY is detected at near maximal levels in rat DNA days to weeks after AFB1 exposure, underscoring its high persistence in vivo. The present study reveals two striking properties of this DNA adduct: (i) AFB1-FAPY was found to cause a G to T mutation frequency in Escherichia coli approximately 6 times higher than that of AFB1-N7-Gua, and (ii) one proposed rotamer of AFB1-FAPY is a block to replication, even when the efficient bypass polymerase MucAB is used by the cell. Taken together, these characteristics make the FAPY adduct the prime candidate for both the genotoxicity of aflatoxin, because mammalian cells also have similar bypass mechanisms for combating DNA damage, and the mutagenicity that ultimately may lead to liver cancer. Aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ), one of the most potent known liver carcinogens, is produced by the common soil fungus Aspergillus flavus. Exposure to this toxin is high in regions of the world where certain foods are improperly stored (1). Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is also common in these regions, and epidemiological evidence indicates that there is a synergistic interaction between AFB 1 exposure and HBV infection on the induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In over 50% of HCC cases studied in these areas, a characteristic G to T mutation is observed at the third position of codon 249 of the p53 tumorsuppressor gene (2, 3). Whether this specific sequence is an exceptional target for mutations caused by AFB 1 or whether the mutation is selected for once it occurs remains to be determined. However, each of these scenarios shares the fundamental early step involving generation of a G to T mutation.There is substantial evidence that AFB 1 -induced G to T mutations in cellular ras genes may also be a step in transformation of normal cells to malignant cells (4-6). In humans these mutations occur at the first and second positions of codon 12 in the Ha-ras protooncogene (7) and they are in sequence contexts similar, but not identical, to that of codon 249 in p53.Many studies have defined the mutational spectrum produced after exposure of cells to either the epoxide, which is the toxicologically relevant natural metabolite of AFB 1 (8), or to other electrophilic derivatives that serve as models for the epoxide (9). The G to T mutation is predominantly observed (2,3,(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Studies of mutational landscapes, by their nature, do not elucidate which specific chemical form o...

The structure of the (-)-(7S,8R,9S,10R)-N6-[10-(7,8,910-tetrahydrobenzo [a]pyrenyl)]-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct at X6 of 5'-d(CGGACXAGAAG)-3'-5'-d(CTTCTTGTCCG)-3', derived from trans addition of the exocyclic N6-amino group of dA to (-)-(7S,8R,9R,10S)-7, 8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene [(-)-DE2], was determined using molecular dynamics simulations restrained by 369 NOEs from 1H NMR. This was named the SRSR(61,2) adduct, derived from the N-ras protooncogene at and adjacent to the nucleotides encoding amino acid 61 (underlined) of the p21 gene product. NOEs between C5, S.R.S.R A6, and A7 were disrupted, as were those between T17 and G18. NOEs between benzo[a]pyrene and DNA protons were localized on the two faces of the pyrenyl ring. The benzo[a]pyrene H3-H6 protons showed NOEs to T17 CH3, while H1, H2, and H3 showed NOEs to T17 deoxyribose; the latter protons and H4 showed NOEs to T17 H2', H2" and to T17 H6. Noes were observed between H11 and H12 and C5 H]',H2', H2". G18 N1H showed NOEs to both faces of benzo[a]pyrene. Upfield shifts of 2.6 ppm for T17 N3H and 1.8 ppm for G18 N1H. 1 ppm for T17 H6 and CH3, and 0.75 ppm for C5 H5, with a smaller shift for C5 H6, and a 1.5 ppm dispersion of the pyrenyl protons suggested that benzo[a]pyrene intercalated above the 5'-face of S.R.S.R A6. The precision of the refined structures was monitored by pairwise root mean square deviations. which were < 1.5 A; accuracy was measured by complete relaxation matrix calculations, which yielded a sixth root R factor of 8.1 x 10(-2). Interstrand stacking between the pyrenyl ring and the T17 pyrimidine and G18 purine rings was enhanced by the bay ring. Changes of +30 degrees and -25 degrees in buckle for C5.G18 and S.R.S.R A6.T17, respectively, were calculated, as was a -40 degrees change in propeller twist for C5.G18. The rise between C5.G18 and S.R.S.R A6.T17 was calculated to be 7 A. The work extended the pattern for adenine N6 benzo[a]pyrene adducts, in which the R stereochemistry at C10 predicted 5'-intercalation of the pyrenyl moiety.