摘要:
The ability of rat tissues to activate the esophageal carcinogen, N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine (NBzMA), to a DNA benzylating intermediate was investigated. [3-H-3]NBzMA was prepared and given to male F344 rats. Tissues were harvested 4 h after treatment, and DNA was isolated. HPLC analysis with radiochemical detection of chemical and enzymatic hydrolysates of DNA from liver and lung revealed the formation of benzyl adducts. Benzyl alcohol, N-2-benzylguanine, 3-benzyladenine, N-6-benzyladenine, and 7-benzylguanine were the major radioactive components in the hydrolysates. An unknown adduct was also observed. The adduct distribution was similar to that observed in [3-H-3]benzylnitrosourea ([3-H-3]BzNU)treated calf thymus DNA. However, enzymatic hydrolysates of [3-H-3]BzNU-treated DNA also contained significant levels of O-6-benzyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (O-6-BzdG). This radioactive adduct disappeared upon incubation of the DNA with a crude preparation of the repair protein, O-6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase isolated from rat liver. These data provide evidence that O-6-BzdG is probably rapidly repaired in vivo. No benzylation of esophageal mucosal DNA was detected. The level of DNA benzylation observed in tissues from [3-H-3]NBzMA-treated rats was several orders of magnitude lower than the level of DNA methylation in these same tissues. Therefore, these data indicate that DNA benzylation plays a minor role, if any, in the carcinogenic activity of NBzMA.