Analysis of DNA adducts in putative premalignant hepatic nodules and nontarget tissues of rats during 2-acetylaminofluorene carcinogenesis

Exposure of rats to a standard four-cycle feeding regimen of 0.06% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) results in the formation of putatively premalignant hepatic nodules, but the types and magnitude of DNA adducts formed in these nodules has not been previously examined. By using a sensitive 32P-adduct assay (R. C. Gupta, Cancer Res., 45: 5656-5662, 1985), we analyzed the DNA adduct lesions in individual hepatic nodules at various times during and after exposure to AAF. Kidney, spleen, and testis were included as nontarget tissues. No qualitative difference was observed in the DNA adducts found in hepatic nodules and nontarget tissues; however, quantitative differences occurred. At least one unknown and two known (dG-C8-AF and dG-N2-AAF) DNA adducts were detected, with dG-C8-AF being predominantly (96-98%) formed, in all tissues examined. At the end of the first three weeks of AAF feeding, the concentration of the deacetylated adduct dG-C8-AF in liver (223 fmol/micrograms DNA) was found to be about 2, 6, and 5 times higher than in kidney, spleen, and testis, respectively. The concentration of the N2-acetylated adduct in liver (4.5 fmol/micrograms DNA) was 4-fold higher than in kidney and strikingly higher (51- and 42-fold, respectively) than in spleen and testis. At the end of the fourth feeding cycle, total DNA adducts measured in the hepatic nodules ranged from 30-100 fmol/micrograms DNA, while the "surrounding liver," kidney, spleen, and testis showed 235, 218, 62, and 28 fmol adducts/micrograms DNA, respectively. Sixty days following the cessation of AAF, the binding in both the persistent nodules and liver had decreased to 7% of their respective levels measured at the end of the fourth cycle, while adducts in kidney, spleen, and testis were 32%, 18% and 19%. After 88 days, the binding levels in the nontarget tissues declined further, but no additional adduct removal occurred in the nodules. Our data indicate that (a) although the metabolic apparatus for activation of AAF is diminished in the hepatic nodules, a significant level of adduct formation occurs in the cells of this putative, premalignant lesion, and (b) unlike in the nontarget tissues, repair processes in the premalignant nodules may not be operative several weeks after the cessation of AAF exposure.     

Microfluorometric determination of DNA adducts in immunofluorescent-stained liver tissue from rats fed 2-acetylaminofluorene

The intensities of immunofluorescence in nuclei stained by an antiserum specific for the DNA adduct N-deoxyguanosin(8-yl)aminofluorene (dG-8-AF), were quantified by microfluorometry in frozen liver sections from male Fischer rats fed 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF). Results of previous studies demonstrated that dG-8-AF is the predominant adduct (80-100%) formed in livers of rats fed AAF continuously, and that nuclei of hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells in rats fed AAF exhibit an adduct-specific immunofluorescence. In the present investigation, nuclear staining for dG-8-AF was quantified by microfluorometry in liver sections from male Fischer rats fed 0.02% AAF continuously for 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 28 days. Microfluorometric determinations of the intensities of nuclear immunofluorescence staining within periportal, midzonal, and centrilobular hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells revealed that levels of the dG-8-AF adduct increased in these cells during AAF feeding, reaching a plateau by 12 days. However, significant differences were detected in dG-8-AF levels within cells of each lobular area. Nuclei of periportal hepatocytes exhibited the most intense immunofluorescence, nuclei of centrilobular hepatocytes and bile duct epithelial cells emitted the least intense fluorescence, and nuclei of midzonal hepatocytes exhibited an intermediate fluorescence intensity. Quantitation of whole-liver levels of the dG-8-AF adduct by RIA, after extraction of DNA, also revealed that adduct accumulation reached a plateau by 12 days of AAF feeding. Thus, similar profiles of adduct accumulation were obtained by microfluorometric analysis of immunofluorescence staining within frozen liver sections, and by RIA analysis of DNA extracted from whole livers. The periportal concentration of DNA adducts in livers of rats continuously fed a carcinogenic dose of AAF may be an important early event in AAF-induced liver tumorigenesis.     

Immunohistochemical localization of DNA adducts in rat liver tissue and phenotypically altered foci during oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene

Histological studies using paired immunofluorescence stainingand peroxidase-anti-peroxidase staining were performed on sectionsof rat livers with an antiserum specific for the 2-acetylaminofluorene(AAF)-DNA adduct N-deoxyguanosin-(8-yl)-aminofluorene (dG-8-AF).This is the predominant adduct in rat liver DNA at 5 (80%) and28 (100%) days of AAF feeding. Nuclear staining was observedin livers of male Fischer rats fed 0.02% AAF for these timeperiods, and was not present in livers of animals fed controldiet or detected when specific antiserum, first absorbed withthe immunogen adduct, was utilized. In addition, nuclear stainingwas unchanged after incubation with RNase and abolished afterincubation with DNase. Adducts were not readily detectable whenwhole-liver adduct concentrations were less than an averageof 10⁵ adducts per cell (30–50 fmol/µg DNA). Theoverall pattern of adduct distribution in livers of AAF-fedanimals was distinctly non-uniform. A predominance of nuclearstaining was found in the periportal areas by both immunofluorescenceand immunoperoxidase procedures. In contrast, staining was veryweak in the centrilobular areas. When animals were fed AAF for28 days and control diet subsequently for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days,the overall intensity of the immunohistochemical staining decreasedwith time on control diet. However, the pattern of localizationremained the same as in livers of rats fed AAF for 28 days,with the predominance of adducts being in the periportal areas.In male rats fed 0.02% AAF for 8 weeks, foci positive for -glutamyltranspeptidase(GGT) became apparent, and the nuclei in these areas showedno immunofluorescence, indicating the absence of detectablelevels of the dG-8-AF adduct. Twenty adduct-negative areas inthe median lobes of three rat livers were positive for GGT,which suggests that loss of ability to form adducts in theseregions occurs concomitantly with early phenotypic changes.     

DNA adduct formation and removal in hepatic chromatin fractions from rats chronically fed 2-acetylaminofluorene

Continuous dietary administration of the hepatocarcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) to rats produces a gradual increase in hepatic DNA adducts until a plateau is reached after approximately 2 weeks. The rate of DNA adduct formation remains constant through 1 month of AAF feeding, while adduct removal profiles are biphasic during both carcinogen feeding and subsequent time on control diet. In the present experiments, we tested the hypothesis that biphasic adduct removal is due to differential repair kinetics taking place in different chromatin fractions. Rats were fed 0.02% AAF for times up to 30 days and control diet for a subsequent 28 days. HPLC analysis of nuclear DNA indicated that the deacetylated adduct, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene, comprised approximately 90% of the total C8-substituted deoxyguanosine adducts after 3 days of feeding and greater than 98% after 20 days. The nuclear DNA was partitioned into endogenous nuclease sensitive (approximately 2%), low salt soluble (approximately 70%), high salt soluble (approximately 20%) and nuclear matrix (approximately 8%) fractions. During 28 days of AAF feeding, each fraction showed a profile of adduct formation similar to that observed in whole nuclei; however, the adduct concentration in nuclear matrix-associated DNA was consistently less than that in the other fractions. In rats fed AAF for 28 days followed by control diet, adduct removal in each of the fractions showed biphasic kinetics that were similar to those observed in nuclear DNA. When rats were fed AAF for 7 days, however, adduct removal kinetics could be best described by a single first-order rate constant. These data indicate that biphasic adduct removal may be due to the presence of particular nucleotide sequences that are common to all fractions and are relatively resistant to adduct formation and removal. The low concentration of adducts found in the nuclear matrix may be due to a decreased rate of adduct formation in this region and/or the proximity of membrane-bound beta-polymerases that are responsible for repair.     

DNA adduct formation, removal and persistance in rat liver during one month of feeding 2-acetylaminofluorene

Male Wistar-Furth rats were fed 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene(AAF) for 3 days or 0.02% AAF for 25 days followed by 0.02%[ring-³H]AAF for an additional 3 days. The concentration ofhepatic DNA adducts was then monitored by both radioimmunoassayand radiolabeling during 28 days of control diet. This approachallowed comparisons to be made of adduct accumulation, removaland persistence at both the beginning and end of a four weekcarcinogen feeding period. DNA adduct formation remained constantduring the month of AAF administration with an accumulationrate of 157 fmol adduct/µg DNA during days 1–3 anddays 25–28 of the experiment. Furthermore, the rate ofremoval of adducts formed during these three day periods wassimilar when both groups were fed control diets for 28 additionaldays. Continued AAF administration resulted in a slow accumulationof persistent adducts; thus, 91±6% of the adducts detectedafter 3 days of AAF feeding were removed during a subsequentmonth of control diet, while only 65±11% of the adductsdetected after 28 days of AAF diet were removed when rats werefed control diet for an additional 28 days. In a second experiment,the removal of adducts was compared in animals fed control orAAF diet after previously being fed 0.02% AAF for 17 days. Similarremoval curves were observed in both groups; therefore, continuedingestion of AAF did not affect the rate of adduct removal.In both experiments, biphasic repair curves were observed. Thesedata were used to develop a pharmacokinetic model. Two genomicregions were postulated, an area susceptible to fast repairand a region more resistant to the removal of AAF adducts. Atequilibrium, which was reached after 2–3 weeks of AAFfeeding, the concentration of adducts in each region was similarwith {small tilde}150 fmol adduct/µg DNA. Although thetotal number of adducts formed in the fast repair region duringone month of AAF administration was five times greater thanin the resistant region, the model predicted that the adductslocalized in regions resistant to repair were the persistentadducts detected after one month of control diet. Overall, theremoval of adducts formed during chronic AAF feeding was veryefficient since >93% of the adducts were removed by the endof a subsequent month of control diet.     

DNA adduct formation and removal in specific liver cell populations during chronic dietary administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene

The concentration of DNA adducts in specific hepatic cell typeshas been determined in F344 rats fed 0.02% 2-acetyl-aminofluorene(AAF) for 28 days followed by control diet for an additional28 days. In animals killed at 28 days of AAF feeding, the majorDNA adduct, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene, was presentin each cell type in the order: hepatocytes (282? 28 fmol/µgDNA) > whole liver (232 ? 33 fmol/µg DNA) > nonparenchymalcells (128 ? 30 fmol/µg DNA) > bile duct fraction (60?12 fmol/µg DNA). After an additional 28 days on controldiet, the adduct level in each cell fraction was 30–40fmol/µg DNA. Adduct removal was biphasic in whole liver,hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells, with a fast phase apparentuntil the adduct concentration reached 60 fmol/µg DNA.In whole liver and hepatocytes this level was obtained in approximatelyseven days, and in nonparenchymal cells the fast phase was completein about two days. Adduct removal in the bile duct fractionexhibited only a single slow phase. At the end of the AAF feeding,hepatocytes accounted for 86% of the total liver DNA adducts.After an additional 28 days on control diet, hepatocyte adductsstill contributed a major fraction (67%) of the total persistentadduct population. Thus, hepatocytes, the target cell for AAF-inducedhepatic tumors, dominate the adduct formation and removal profileobserved in whole liver.     

Role of the intestinal microflora in the formation of DNA and haemoglobin adducts in rats treated with 2-nitrofluorene and 2-aminofluorene by gavage

The role of the intestinal microflora in the metabolic activationof nitroarenes and arylamines was studied in female Wistar ratsthat received a dose of 1 mmol/kg 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) insunflower oil by gavage. Another group received the same doseof 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF). A third group of animals was usedas controls. Germfree (GF) rats, GF rats with a rat microflora(RM) and GF rats with a human microflora (HM) were treated.After treatment with 2-AF significant differences were observedin the formation of haemoglobin (Hb) adducts and DNA adducts.The 2-AF-Hb adduct level (mean ± SD) observed in GF rats(0.57 ± 0.13 µmol/g Hb) was considerably lowerthan that observed in RM rats (5.1 ± 0.6) and in HM rats(6.2 ± 13). DNA adduct levels showed the opposite pattern:levels of adducts co-migrating with deoxyguanosin-8-yl-aminofluorene(dG-C8-AF) in liver tissue were higher in GF rats (4.6 ±1.4 fmol/µg DNA) as compared to RM rats (2.6 ±0.04) or HM rats (2.0 ± 0.7). In lung tissue and whiteblood cells a similar influence of the intestinal microfloraon DNA adduct levels was observed. These results suggest thatthe intestinal microflora cleaves conjugates of 2-AF or N-hydroxy-2-AF,thus facilitating entero-hepatic recirculation of these compoundsand enhancing the formation of reactive intermediates bindingto Hb. The latter is not observed for DNA adduct formation,indicating that most of these adducts have been formed aftera single passage through the liver. After treatment with 2-NF,Hb and DNA adduct levels were much lower. An adduct spot wasobserved that was not presentin rats that received 2-AF. InGF animals only very low levels of DNA adducts co-migratingwith dG-C8-AF or deoxyguanosin-8-yl-acetyl-aminofluorene andno Hb adducts were observed, indicating that the metabolic activityof the microflora is an essential step in both Hb and DNA adductformation.     

Chromosome site-specific immunohistochemical detection of DNA adducts in N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene--exposed Chinese hamster ovary cells

In these studies a polyclonal antiserum elicited against a carcinogen-DNA adduct was used to explore the localization of DNA adducts in metaphase chromosomes of cultured cells. Morphological visualization of the adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells exposed to the direct-acting carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-Ac-AAF) was accomplished by indirect immunofluorescence with an anti-G-C8-AF antiserum. At the same time the pattern of chromosomal DNA replication was determined by replicative incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) and chromosomal staining with anti-BrdUrd. Visualization of DNA in chromosomes was accomplished with Hoechst 33258 dye. When synchronized CHO cells were exposed to N-Ac-AAF for 0.5 h during early S phase, the chromosomal pattern of dG-C8-AF adduct formation was not random. Metaphase chromosome spreads from cells exposed to N-Ac-AAF in different experiments contained certain chromosome regions that had a consistently high adduct concentration. The regions of high DNA damage corresponded to the regions active in DNA synthesis when BrdUrd and the carcinogen were given simultaneously in early S phase. In addition, the patterns of high adduct concentration and replicative synthesis shifted when the carcinogen and BrdUrd were given simultaneously during late S phase. Thus, the stage of cell cycle in which adducts are induced is an important factor in the specific location of the highest concentrations of this type of DNA lesion.     

Carcinogen-DNA adducts in cultures of rat and human hepatocytes.

Exposure to chemical carcinogens can often be identified by detection of DNA adduct lesions. Primary cultures of isolated rat and human hepatocytes were exposed to 2-acetyl-aminofluorene (AAF), 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP), or benzo[a]pyrene (BP). The isolated DNA from the exposed cells was analyzed using the 32P-post-labeling assay. A greater total of carcinogen-DNA adducts, 2-12-fold, were observed in human hepatocytes than rat hepatocytes at the same concentrations. The predominant DNA adducts for each carcinogen were the same between rat and human cells. The N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF) was the major AAF-DNA adduct. The N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP) was the major ABP-DNA adduct. In the rat N2-[10 beta-(7 beta, 8 alpha, 9 alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene)yl] deoxyguanosine (dG-N2-BP) and two unidentified adducts were nearly equivalent in amount, while the major BP-DNA adducts in the humans was the dG-N2-BP. The rat hepatocyte in vitro results are comparable to the predominant adducts found with rats exposed in vivo. The two different cultures of human hepatocytes demonstrated qualitative and quantitative differences in specific DNA adducts from rat hepatocytes. This study and others using human hepatocyte cultures demonstrate that this in vitro system can provide useful information for assessing human carcinogenic hazards.     

The binding of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene to DNA and repair of the adducts in primary rat hepatocyte cultures

Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were exposed to [ring-³H]-N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene(N-OH-AAF) for 4 h, and the RNA and DNA nucleoside adducts wereisolated and identified by h.p.l.c. The DNA adducts were shownto be N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-C8-AAF),N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF), and 3-(deoxy-guanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene(dG-N2-AAF), while the RNA adducts were N-(guanosin-8-yl)-2-acetyl-aminofluorene,and N-(guanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene. The removal of theseadducts was measured up to 38 h following the cessation of exposureof the hepatocytes to N-OH-AAF. The dG-C8-AAF adduct was removedwith a half-life of approximately 10 h, while dG-N²-AAF anddG-C8-AF remained constant for 14 h, followed by a slow rateof removal. The dG-C8-AAF adduct initially composed about 60%of the total DNA adducts of primary hepatocytes in contrastto the 20% found in liver in vivo. The formation of the 3 DNAadducts and the different rates of repair indicate that primarycultured rat hepatocytes may be a valuable system to study initiationof liver carcinogenesis by N-OH-AAF.     

DNA adduct formation in liver following the administration of [3H]2-nitrofluorene to rats in vivo.

The formation of RNA and DNA adducts by the environmental pollutant 2-nitrofluorene (2-NF) has been investigated in rat liver in vivo. The adduct pattern was studied after trifluoroacetic acid hydrolysis of DNA or RNA, followed by analysis of the adducts by HPLC. This was also done by enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA, followed by 32P-postlabeling. Both after oral and i.v. administration of [3H]2-NF, one major adduct was found. This adduct did not co-migrate with one of the known adducts of 2-(acetyl)-aminofluorene, N-deoxyguanosin-8-yl-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF), which could have been formed after nitroreduction of 2-NF. 32P-Postlabeling revealed that two minor adducts were also formed, one of which was dG-C8-AF. The observation that the major adduct was also formed after i.v. administration of 2-NF to bile duct-catheterized rats makes a role for the intestinal microflora in the formation of this adduct very unlikely. In vitro experiments with inhibitors of the enzyme epoxide hydrolase indicated that epoxidation of 2-NF may play a role in the microsomal bioactivation of this compound.     

DNA adduct formation and tumorigenesis in mice during the chronic administration of 4-aminobiphenyl at multiple dose levels

Recent studies have demonstrated the presence of DNA adductsfrom 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) in the bladder cells of humans;however, the correlation between the concentration of theseadducts and the tumorigenic response is not clear. To help elucidatethis relationship, we have investigated DNA adduct formationin experimental animals continuously administered 4-ABP. Maleand female BALB/c mice were treated for 28 days with 4-ABP hydro-chloridein their drinking water. DNA adducts in target tissues (liverof females and bladder of males) were identified and quantifiedby ³²P-postlabeling analyses and radio-immunoassays. These resultswere compared to previously reported tumor incidences obtainedfrom the lifetime administration of 4-ABP hydrochloride. Themajor adduct observed in both tissues was N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-ABP.In the bladders of both sexes and the livers of female mice,adduct levels increased with dose at low doses, but saturationwas observed at high doses. In the livers of males, the adductlevels were linearly correlated with dose throughout the entiredose range. A comparison between DNA adducts and tumorigenesisindicated a linear correlation between adduct levels and theincidence of liver tumors in female mice. In the bladders ofmale mice, however, the relationship was markedly nonlinear.These data suggest that adduct formation alone is insufficientfor tumorigenesis in the bladder and that other factors suchas cell proliferation are necessary for tumor production.     

The 32P-post-labeling method in quantitative DNA adduct dosimetry of 2-acetylaminofluorene-induced mutagenicity in Chinese hamster ovary cells and Salmonella typhimurium TA1538

The usefulness of the ³²P-post-labeling/t.l.c. method for quantitativeDNA adduct dosimetry was evaluated. 2-Acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF)-DNAadducts from three systems were characterized qualitativelyand quantitatively by the ³H-radiolabeled technique with subsequentanalysis by h.p.l.c. (pre-labeling method) and by the ³²-post-labelingmethod. Both methods showed N-acetoxyacetylaminofluorene (N-OAc-AAF)reaction products with calf thymus DNA were predominantly N-(deoxyguanosm-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofhiorene(dG-C8-AAF) with some N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amino-fluorene(dG-C8-AF) and N-(deoxyguanosin-N²-yl)-2-acetyl-aminofluorene(dG-N2-AAF). In contrast, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cellstreated with [³H]N-OAc-AAF gave 80 or 90% dG-C8-AF adducts and20 or 10% dG-C8-AAF adducts with the post- or pre-labeling method,respectively. Likewise in CHO cells treated with 2-AAF in thepresence of rat liver homogenate, {small tilde}90% dG-C8-AFand 10% dG-C8-AAF adducts were detected using the ³²P-post-labelingmethod. In Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1538 treated with2-AAF or [³H]2-AAF in the presence of a rat liver homogenate,one adduct, dG-C8-AF, was identified. Similar quantitative resultswere also obtained with the two methods. However, the ³²P-post-labelingmethod was more sensitive and also eliminated the use of radiolabeled-mutagentreatments. Quantitative DNA adduct dosimetry was applied toAAF-induced mutagenesis in the S. typhimurium and CHO/HPRT mutationassays. A linear and reproducible relationship existed betweendG-C8-AF levels and AAF-induced mutants in both systems.     

Immunohistochemical and microfluorometric determination of hepatic DNA adduct removal in rats fed 2-acetylaminofluorene

Biphasic removal of DNA adducts has previously been demonstratedby radioiminunoassay In whole liver DNA from rats chronicallyfed 2-acetylaminofluorene for 28 days. In the present study,removal of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amlnofluorene was observedin situ by microfluorometry. Frozen liver sections from animalsfed 0.02% 2-acetylaminofluorene for 28 days, followed by a controldiet for 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days, were examined immunohisto-chemicallyfor localization of N-(deoxyguanosln-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene withfluorescein-conjugated secondary antiserum. In addition, bileducts and oval cells were stained with antibodies to keratinsusing Texas red-labelled indirect immunofluorescence. Hoechstdye was used to identify DNA in nuclei. During the 28 days onthe control diet, after 28 days of feeding 2-acetylaminofluorene,the DNA adduct concentrations of parenchymal liver cells werereduced by 85%, as compared to animals fed only the carcinogenfor 28 days. Periportal hepatocytes exhibited biphasic (fastand slow) adduct removal. Only fast adduct removal was demonstratedin midzonal and centrilobular hepatocytes, since the adductlevels were below the detectable range in these regions after7 days on the control diet. After 28 days on the control diet,N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene was detected in 50% ofperiportal hepatocytes. These results are compatible with thepreviously observed biphasic removal profile determined by radloinimunoassayof whole liver DNA adducts and indicate that penportal hepatocytesremove adducts from two distinct genomic compartments.     

Mutations induced by aminofluorene-DNA adducts during replication in human cells

To gain insight into the mechanisms by which carcinogens induce mutations in human cells, we treated a shuttle vector, pZ189, carrying the supF gene as the target for mutations with N-acetoxy-N-trifluoroacetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-AcO-TFA-AF). The plasmids were allowed to replicate in human cell line 293, and the progeny plasmids were examined for the frequency and kinds of mutations induced in supF, as well as their specific location in the sequence of the supF gene. The plasmids were reacted with N-AcO-TFA-AF so as to obtain the deacetylated adduct N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF), the principal adduct formed in DNA when mammalian cells are exposed to reactive derivatives of 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), including N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene. The results showed there was a linear relationship between the number of dG-C8-AF adducts per plasmid and the frequency of supF mutants induced. DNA sequencing of 47 independent mutants obtained from doses of N-AcO-TFA-AF that increased the frequency of mutants 9-15 times the background frequency and three independent mutants from lower doses showed that 92% contained point mutations, i.e. changes affecting one, or two, or three nearby bases, and that all of these point mutations involved G.C base pairs. Ninety eight percent of the point mutations were base substitutions, predominantly G.C----T.A transversions. 46% of these mutations occurred at four out of the 85 bp in the target gene (hot spots). The most prominent mutation hot spot was also the most prominent hot spot for adduct formation as judged by the frequency of termination of in vitro polymerization by the Klenow fragment on N-AcO-TFA-AF-treated plasmids.     

Detection and quantification of 4-ABP adducts in DNA from bladder cancer patients

We analyzed bladder DNA from 27 cancer patients for dG-C8-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP) adducts using the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method with a 700 attomol (1 adduct in 10(9) bases) detection limit. Hemoglobin (Hb) 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) adduct levels were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. After isolation of dG-C8-ABP by immunoaffinity chromatography and further purification, deuterated (d9) dG-C8-ABP (MW=443 Da) was added to each sample. Structural evidence and adduct quantification were determined by selected reaction monitoring, based on the expected adduct ion [M+H+]+1, at m/z 435 with fragmentation to the product ion at m/z 319, and monitoring of the transition for the internal standard, m/z 444-->328. The method was validated by analysis of DNA (100 microg each) from calf thymus; livers from ABP-treated and untreated rats; human placentas; and TK6 lymphoblastoid cells. Adduct was detected at femtomol levels in DNA from livers of ABP-treated rats and calf thymus, but not in other controls. The method was applied to 41 DNA samples (200 microg each) from 27 human bladders; 28 from tumor and 14 from surrounding non-tumor tissue. Of 27 tissues analyzed, 44% (12) contained 5-80 dG-C8-ABP adducts per 10(9) bases; only 1 out of 27 (4%) contained adduct in both tumor and surrounding tissues. The Hb adduct was detected in samples from all patients, at levels of 12-1960 pg per gram Hb. There was no correlation between levels of DNA and Hb adducts. The presence of DNA adducts in 44% of the subjects and high levels of Hb adducts in these non-smokers indicate environmental sources of exposure to 4-ABP.     

N-acetylated and deacetylated 4'-fluoro-4-aminobiphenyl and 4-aminobiphenyl adducts differ in their ability to inhibit DNA replication of single-stranded M13 in vitro and of single-stranded phi X174 in Escherichia coli.

Calf thymus single-stranded (ss) DNA was modified with the N-sulfate conjugate of N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-AAF), N-hydroxy-4'-fluoro-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-OH-FAABP) or N-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-OH-AABP) to yield predominantly N-acetylated adducts of 2-aminofluorene, 4-aminobiphenyl and 4'-fluoro-4-amino-biphenyl respectively to C8 of deoxyguanosine (dG-C8-AAF, dG-C8-AABP and dG-C8-FAABP). The modified DNAs were used as templates for in vitro DNA synthesis. DNA replication on the randomly primed template was inhibited as compared to control (unmodified) DNA to the same extent by all three types of adducts, irrespective of whether polymerization was performed by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I, modified T7 DNA polymerase or Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase. In addition, all three types of adducts completely blocked replication of ss phi X174 in an E. coli host: on average one adduct per DNA molecule was sufficient to inactivate the bacteriophage. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of DNA fragments synthesized by E. coli DNA polymerase I on FAABP- and AABP-modified ss M13mp9 DNA templates, showed that termination occurred predominantly one nucleotide before (and occasionally opposite) a modified deoxyguanosine in the template. However, the deacetylated adducts, dG-C8-AF, dG-C8-ABP and dG-C8-FABP (obtained by reacting DNA with their N-trifluoroacetyl-N-acetoxy esters) were frequently bypassed during replication of ss phi X174 in E. coli, though with different efficiencies: 1 out 7, 1 out of 2 and 1 out of 3 adducts on average respectively caused bacteriophage inactivation. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that termination of DNA synthesis occurred at least as frequently opposite as 3' to a modified deoxyguanosine in the template.     

Role of TP53 in repair of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl adducts in human transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder

The global genomic repair of DNA adducts was examined in human papillary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines after exposure to N:-hydroxy-4-acetylaminobiphenyl (N-OH-AABP), the proximate carcinogenic metabolite of the human bladder carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP). (32)P-post-labeling analysis of TCC cultures exposed to N-OH-AABP revealed a major adduct, identified as the 3',5'-bisphosphate derivative of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl (dG-C8-ABP). The amount of adduct formation in TCC10 was dependent upon the dose and the duration of exposure and ranged between 1 and 5 adducts/10(7) nucleotides. To test if p53 regulates repair of the dG-C8-ABP adduct in genomic DNA, an isogeneic set of cell lines was obtained by infection of the TCC10 cultures with a retroviral construct expressing a trans-dominant mutant of p53, namely a Val-->Ala mutation at codon 143. The TDM143-TCC10 line expressing the mutant form of p53 was selected. The rate of repair of dG-C8-ABP was compared between TCC10 and TDM143-TCC10 cultures after treatment with 15 microM N-OH-AABP. The rate of disappearance of the adduct was monitored over a period of time after chemical treatment. (32)P-post-labeling analysis of dG-C8-ABP in parental TCC10 showed its rapid removal, the majority of adducts disappearing within 48 h. In contrast to TCC10, TDM143-TCC10 was relatively slower in removal of dG-C8-ABP. After 24 h DNA repair TDM143-TCC10 showed an approximately 3-fold greater amount of dG-C8-ABP compared with TCC10. These results imply that p53 plays a role in the repair of ABP adducts and that in p53 null cells the unrepaired DNA damage could cause accumulation of mutations, which might contribute to increased genomic instability and neoplastic progression.     

Isolation and characterization of oligodeoxynucleotides containing dG-N2-AAF and oxidation products of dG-C8-AF

Decadeoxynucleotides containing N-(deoxyguanosine-N2-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-N2-AAF) and three recently described products of oxidation of N-(deoxyguanosine-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene (dG-C8-AF) were isolated and characterized. dG-N2-AAF was synthesized; its structure was established by mass spectroscopic and 1H-NMR analysis. Decadeoxynucleotides containing dG-N2-AAF and dG-C8-AAF were prepared by permitting d(CACTAGTCAC) to react with N-acetoxy-AAF and separating the products by HPLC. The decamer containing dG-C8-AAF was incubated under aerobic alkaline conditions. In the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol, the adduct is deacetylated; in the absence of antioxidant, decamers bearing oxidation products are formed. Homogeneity of the modified oligomers was established by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The modified oligodeoxy-nucleotides will be used to introduce dG-N2-aminofluorene adducts and oxidative lesions, site-specifically, into DNA, thereby to correlate these adducts with their mutagenic properties.     

Immunocytological detection of AAF-DNA adducts in HeLa cell nuclei

Acetylaminofluorene-DNA adducts (AAF-DNA) were detected in the nuclei of HeLa cells exposed to N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-Ac-AAF), using an immunocytological technique and specific antibodies directed against AAF modified DNA. The proportion of cells exhibiting specific nuclear immunoreactivity was dose-dependent. The time course of disappearance of adduct specific nuclear immunoreactivity was compared with removal of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-acetylaminofluorene (dG-C8-AAF) and other adducts.