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We compared the tumor-initiating activities toward mouse skin of two structurally related polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides: racemic anti-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,6-dimethylchrysene-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide (5,6-diMeCDE) and racemic anti-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide (5-MeCDE). Tumors induced by these diol epoxides were analysed for mutations in the Ha-ras gene. 5,6-diMeCDE is derived from the non-planar parent compound 5,6-dimethylchrysene, and reacts to approximately equal extents with dA and dG in DNA, whereas 5-MeCDE is derived from a nearly planar parent compound, 5-methylchrysene, and reacts mainly with dG in DNA. 5,6-diMeCDE, at initiating doses of 33, 100 or 400 nmol per mouse, induced 1.2, 2.2 and 6.2 skin tumors per mouse, respectively. It was significantly less tumorigenic than 5-MeCDE which induced 3.1, 7.5 and 9.1 skin tumors per mouse at the same doses. Tumors induced by 5,6-diMeCDE had a large number of CAA-->CTA mutations in codon 61 of the Ha-ras gene: 50, 55 and 75% of the tumors analysed had this mutation at the 33, 100 and 400 nmol doses. No mutations were found in codons 12 and 13 in the tumors induced by 5,6-diMeCDE. In contrast, CAA-->CTA mutations in codon 61 were rarely seen in tumors induced by 5-MeCDE. At the highest dose of 5-MeCDE, 20% of the tumors analysed had mutations at G of codons 12 and 13. The results of this comparative study support the hypothesis that mutations in the Ha-ras gene in mouse skin tumors induced by PAH diol epoxides occur as a result of their direct reaction with the gene. However, pathways other than the commonly observed Ha-ras codon 61 mutations are clearly important in mouse skin tumorigenesis by these diol epoxides.

The efficacy of a newly developed gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (GC-NICI-MS-SIM) assay for measuring globin adducts of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and chrysene diol epoxides in human was evaluated. In this pilot study, smokers and nonsmokers were selected as exposed and nonexposed groups. Using [2H12]r-7,t-8,9,c-10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyren e ([2H12]trans,anti-B[a]P-tetraol) as an internal standard, B[a]P-tetraols released from globin after hydrolysis and derivatization were quantified by GC-NICI-MS-SIM. Levels of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (chrysene-DE)-globin adducts were estimated by assuming that the recovery and the MS response of the perdeuterated B[a]P-tetraol internal standard reflected the recovery and MS response of chrysene tetraols. The assay was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect both analytes in all samples. The mean levels of B[a]P-tetraols released from the corresponding benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) globin adducts in smokers were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers, i.e., 2.6 +/- 0.6 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 1.2 to 7.8 fmol/mg globin) in smokers and 0.97 +/- 0.05 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 fmol/mg globin) in nonsmokers (P < 0.01). Interestingly, estimated levels of chrysene-DE-globin adducts in the same subjects were about two orders of magnitude higher than those of the globin adducts of BPDE. The mean of the chrysene-DE adducts in smokers was estimated to be 310 +/- 30 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 190 to 460 fmol/mg globin) and that in nonsmokers was 250 +/- 25 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 110 to 380 fmol/mg). Although the estimated mean of chrysene-DE adducts with globin in smokers appeared to be about 25% higher than in nonsmokers, the difference was not significant (P = 0.06). The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of the GC-NICI-MS-SIM method for measurement of BPDE globin adducts in humans.

The metabolism of environmentally occurring methylated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons by human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes has not been examined previously. We compared the metabolism of the tobacco smoke constituents 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC), a strong carcinogen, and 6-MeC, a weak carcinogen, in 18 hepatic and 11 pulmonary human microsomes. Major metabolites of 5-MeC were its proximate carcinogen trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol), as well as 5-MeC-7,8-diol, bay region dihydrodiols, and phenols. 5-MeC-1,2-diol and 5-MeC-7,8-diol were formed stereoselectively, with the R,R enantiomers predominating. Major metabolites of 6-MeC were 6-MeC-1,2-diol, bay region dihydrodiols, phenols, and 6-(hydroxymethyl)chrysene. 6-MeC-1,2-diol was also formed stereoselectively in the 1R,2R configuration. All human liver samples formed the proximate carcinogenic 1,2-diols (0.2-2.3 pmol/mg protein/min for 5-MeC and 0.3-3.1 pmol/mg protein/min for 6-MeC). Comparable results were obtained in pulmonary microsomes, but the extent of metabolism was less than in the hepatic samples, and only 4 of 11 samples showed activity. Catalytic activities known to be associated with specific P450s were analyzed in each hepatic sample and correlated with levels of 5-MeC and 6-MeC metabolites in the same samples. The results of the correlation analysis indicated that P450s 1A1 and 1A2 were active in the formation of 5-MeC-1,2-diol and 6-MeC-1,2-diol, as well as several other metabolites resulting from ring oxidation. The formation of the hydroxymethyl metabolites was catalyzed by P450 3A4 (for 5-MeC) or P450s 3A4 and 1A2 (for 6-MeC). Experiments with chemical inhibitors and antibodies supported these results. The metabolism of 5-MeC and 6-MeC was also investigated using purified recombinant human P450s 1A1, 1A2, 2C10, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4, and 3A5. P450s 1A1, 1A2, and 2C10 had higher activities than the other enzymes for ring oxidation of 5-MeC and 6-MeC, whereas P450s 1A2 and 3A4 were more active than the other enzymes for methyl hydroxylation of 6-MeC. Only P450 3A4 showed substantial catalytic activity for methyl hydroxylation of 5-MeC. Collectively, the results of these studies demonstrate that P450s 1A2 and 2C10 are important catalysts of the metabolic activation of 5-MeC and 6-MeC in human liver, whereas P450 1A1 plays a major role in the metabolic activation of these compounds in human lung.

Diol epoxides of benzo[g]chrysene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (dibenzo[def,p]chrysene), 4H-cyclopenta[def]chrysene and fluoranthene were tested for tumorigenicity in newborn mice. The compounds tested were racemic trans-11,12-dihydroxy-anti-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13, 14-tetrahydrobenzo[g]-chrysene (BgCDE), trans-11, 12-dihydroxy-anti-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo [a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]PDE), trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3, 3a-epoxy,1,2,3,3a-tetrahydro-4H-cyclopenta[def]chrysene (C[def]C-1,3a-DE), trans-6,7-dihydroxy-anti-8,9-epoxy-10b,1, 2,3-tetrahydrofluoranthene (FDE). BgCDE and DB[a,l]PDE are fjord region diol epoxides and their tumorigenic activities were compared to those of trans-3,4-dihydroxy-anti-1, 2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPDE), a fjord region diol epoxide with known high tumorigenicity and trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-pyrene (BPDE), a highly tumorigenic bay region diol epoxide. The protocol called for testing of each compound at a total dose of 25 nmol per mouse, administered on days 1, 7 and 15 of life, with killing at age 35 weeks. BgCDE had similar activity as BcPDE for induction of lung tumors and was more active than BcPDE for induction of liver tumors in male mice. Both compounds were significantly more tumorigenic than BPDE. DB[a,l]PDE was highly toxic. All mice died within 1 week of the first dose. It was then tested in a second study using total doses of 5 and 1 nmol per mouse. Only the first dose of the intended 5 nmol total dose was given due to toxicity. The full course of doses with a total of 1 nmol per mouse was administered; DB[a,l]PDE induced a significant incidence and multiplicity of lung tumors and, in male mice, liver tumors at both doses. These results demonstrate that fjord diol epoxides are highly active tumorigens in newborn mice, with activity greater than that of the most active unsubstituted bay region diol epoxide, BPDE. C[def]C-1-3a-DE and C[def]-6-9-DE were compared to trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3, 4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (CDE), at a total dose of 500 nmol per mouse. FDE was also tested at this dose. The most active compound among the chrysene derivatives was C[def]C-1-3a-DE, followed by C[def]C-6-9-DE and CDE. C[def]C-1-3a-DE has a sterically constrained bay region, in which the benzylic carbon of the tri-substituted epoxide ring is part of a fused ring system. This feature is also present in FDE, which and considerable tumorigenic activity, greater than that of CDE in lung and greater than any of the chrysene derivatives in liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

We compared the mammary carcinogenicity in female CD rats of three fjord region diol epoxides to test our hypothesis that such sterically hindered molecules would be potent carcinogens. The diol epoxides tested were racemic anti-3,4-dihydroxy-1,2-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (BcPDE), anti-11,12-dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrobenzo[g]chrysene (BgCDE) and anti-11,12-dihydroxy-13,14-epoxy-11,12,13,14-tetrahydrodibenzo[a,l ]pyrene (DB[a,l]PDE). Each diol epoxide was dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and injected under the six nipples on the left side of the rat, with DMSO only being injected under the nipples on the right side. The total dose of each diol epoxide was 1.2 mumol/rat and there were 20 rats/group. The experiment was terminated 41 weeks after treatment. All three diol epoxides were potent mammary carcinogens, with activity greater than previously observed for a bay region diol epoxide, anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE). DB[a,l]PDE induced tumors most rapidly, followed by BcPDE and BgCDE. However, different types of tumors were induced. For induction of adenomas and adenocarcinomas, BcPDE and BgCDE had comparable potency; both were more active than DB[a,l]PDE. In contrast, for induction of sarcomas, DB[a,l]PDE was significantly more active than BcPDE and BgCDE. The results of this study support our hypothesis that sterically hindered fjord region diol epoxides are potent mammary carcinogens in the rat.

Dihydrodiol epoxides from 5,6-dimethylchrysene exhibit properties similar to those of fjord region-containing hydrocarbon derivatives in that they react extensively with deoxyadenosine residues in DNA and consequently generate substantial numbers of mutations at AT pairs as well as GC pairs. The syn-dihydrodiol epoxide favors reaction with deoxyadenosine (68% of adducts) to a greater extent than does the anti-dihydrodiol epoxide (52% of adducts), and point mutations at AT pairs (72% for syn- and 45% for anti-dihydrodiol epoxide) follow the same trend. A novel feature of the mutagenicity of the 5,6-dimethylchrysene derivatives is that they exhibit a higher fraction of AT-->GC transitions (28% and 26% for syn and anti, respectively) than has been seen for other hydrocarbon derivatives to date.

Previous metabolism and DNA-binding studies indicated that 5,6-dimethylchrysene (5,6-diMeC) is metabolically activated in mouse skin through formation of its 1,2-dihydrodiol (5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol) and bay region diol-epoxide (anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide). These metabolites were tested as tumor initiators on mouse skin. Included for comparison were syn-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide and anti-4,3-dihydroxy-2,1-epoxy- 4,3,2,1-tetrahydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene (anti-B[c]Ph-4,3-diol-2,1-epoxide). At an initiating dose of 100 nmol/mouse, 5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol and anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide were significantly more tumorigenic than 5,6-diMeC, inducing 7.1 and 3.9 skin tumors per mouse respectively compared to 1.1 induced by 5,6-diMeC. Similar results were obtained at an initiating dose of 33 nmol/mouse. This is the first example of a methylated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon bay region diol-epoxide which is more tumorigenic than its parent hydrocarbon on mouse skin. syn-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide was only weakly tumorigenic. Comparisons of anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide and anti-B[c]Ph-4,3-diol-2,1-epoxide demonstrated that the latter was a stronger tumor initiator. The results of this study confirm the bay region diol-epoxide metabolic activation pathway of 5,6-diMeC but do not provide an explanation for the relatively weak tumorigenicity of this hydrocarbon on mouse skin.

Adducts derived from the covalent binding of two positional monomethyl-substituted isomers of a bay region chrysene diol epoxide to supercoiled pIBI30 DNA (2926 base pairs/genome) were prepared, and their characteristics were investigated by a combination of gel electrophoresis and flow linear dichroism techniques. The 5- and 6-methyl derivatives of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene [(+)-5- and (+)-6-MeCDE, respectively], both with 1R,2S,3S,4R stereochemistry, are characterized by significant differences in their biological activities [Melikian et al. (1988) Cancer Res. 48, 1781-1787]. When covalently bound to plasmid DNA, these two molecules give rise to striking differences in the gel electrophoretic and flow hydrodynamic characteristics of the modified supercoiled DNA. The hydrodynamic flow linear dichroism of linearized DNA molecules (obtained by EcoRI enzyme digestion of covalently closed supercoiled pIBI30 DNA), modified covalently with the highly tumorigenic and mutagenic (+)-5-MeCDE derivative, indicates that flexible joints, bends, or kinks are formed at the site of binding of (+)-5-MeCDE. Slab gel data, as well as ethidium bromide-titration tube agarose gel electrophoresis data, indicate that the formation of (+)-5-MeCDE-DNA lesions causes the removal of superhelical turns with an unwinding angle of 13 +/- 3 degrees per covalently bound polycyclic aromatic residue. In contrast, the biological inactive (+)-6-MeCDE does not significantly alter the characteristics of supercoiled DNA, the unwinding angle is only 2.7 +/- 1 degrees, and the changes in persistence lengths detected by the flow linear dichroism technique are significantly smaller than in the case of (+)-5-MeCDE-DNA adducts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

6-Nitrochrysene (6-NC) is a pollutant generated in diesel exhaust. In order to study its propensity to induce mammary cancer, we injected 6-NC into the mammary glands of female CD rats. 4-Nitropyrene (4-NP), the most active mammary carcinogen among the mononitropyrene isomers, was used as a positive control (K. Imaida et al., Cancer Res., 51: 2902-2907, 1991). A total of 2.04 mumol of each compound in dimethyl sulfoxide was injected into each of the six mammary glands on the left side of weanling rats. The corresponding glands on the right side received injections of dimethyl sulfoxide. The thoracic glands were treated on Day 1 and those located in the inguinal area were treated on Day 2. Rats were sacrificed after 43 wk. 6-NC induced fibroadenomas, adenocarcinomas, and spindle cell sarcomas of the mammary glands in a high percentage of the rats. The numbers of animals with mammary tumors and the numbers of malignant tumors were significantly higher in the group treated with 6-NC than in those receiving 4-NP or dimethyl sulfoxide alone. The results of this study, taken together with those of previous bioassays, demonstrate the remarkable activity of 6-NC as a mammary, colon, and lung carcinogen in rodents.

6-Nitrochrysene (6-NC) is a potent lung and liver carcinogen in the newborn mouse assay. In this report, we extended our studies of the structure--tumorigenicity relationships of the mononitrochrysene isomers. We synthesized 1-NC, 2-NC and 3-NC by oxidation of the corresponding aminochrysenes with mCPBA; efforts to synthesize 4-NC and 5-NC from 4- and 5-aminochrysene were not successful. The tumorigenic activities of 1-NC, 2-NC, 3-NC and 6-NC were compared. Groups of mice were treated with the appropriate compounds in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) by i.p. injection on the 1st, 8th and 15th day of life. At a total dose of 100 nmol/mouse, 6-NC induced significant incidences and multiplicities of lung tumors in mice in both sexes; only males were susceptible to liver tumor induction. At 100 nmol/mouse, induction of lung and liver tumors by 1-NC, 2-NC and 3-NC was not significantly different from that observed in mice treated with DMSO. The results indicate that nitro substitution at the 6-position of chrysene is critical for strong tumorigenicity in the newborn mouse assay.

Proton NMR spectra, obtained in MeOH-d4, of the major DNA adduct of 5,7-dimethylchrysene-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide, identified as 1(R),2(S),3(S)-trihydroxy-4(S)-(N2-deoxyguanosyl)-1, 2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,7-dimethylchrysene, showed the presence of two distinct conformers. One conformer, similar to those observed previously in spectra of peracetates of related DNA adducts of anti-diol epoxides of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, had a chair-like conformation of the tetrahydrobenzo ring. The other conformer, which has not been previously observed, had a boat-like conformation of the tetrahydrobenzo ring. This conformer was converted to the chair-like conformer upon addition of D2O or trifluoroacetic acid to the MeOH-d4 solutions of the adduct. The new conformers were also observed in proton NMR spectra of major DNA adducts of 5-methylchrysene- and 5,6-dimethylchrysene-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxides.

5,6-Dimethylchrysene (5,6-diMeC) is a weaker tumor initiator on mouse skin than 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC). To investigate the reasons for the unexpectedly low activity of 5,6-diMeC, we have studied its metabolism and DNA binding in mouse skin, particularly with respect to metabolic activation via its anti-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide. The metabolism of 5,6-diMeC was first examined with liver 9000g supernatant from Aroclor 1254 pretreated rats. Three major metabolites were identified as 1- or 7-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)-6-MeC, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5,6-diMeC (5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol), and 1-hydroxy-5,6-diMeC. The formation of 5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol was then assessed in mouse epidermis, following topical application of [3H]5,6-diMeC. Levels of 5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol in epidermis exceeded those of 5-MeC-1,2-diol formed from 5-MeC under similar conditions. The binding of [3H]5,6-diMeC and that of [3H]5-MeC to mouse epidermal DNA were then compared. 5,6-DiMeC-deoxyribonucleoside adducts were prepared as markers by reaction of anti- and syn-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide with calf thymus DNA. HPLC analysis of enzymatic hydrolysates of mouse epidermal DNA, isolated 18 h after topical treatment with [3H]5,6-diMeC or [3H]5-MeC, demonstrated the formation from [3H]5,6-diMeC of two major adducts produced by reaction of its anti-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide with deoxyguanosine and deoxyadenosine, respectively, while the major adduct formed from [3H]5-MeC resulted from reaction with deoxyguanosine, in agreement with previous results. Total DNA binding of [3H]5-MeC as well as formation of deoxyguanosine adducts exceeded that of [3H]5,6-diMeC by 3-4-fold.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In contrast to 5-methylchrysene and 5,9-dimethylchrysene, 5,6-dimethylchrysene and 5,7-dimethylchrysene are weak tumor initiators on mouse skin. In order to investigate the basis for this, we have evaluated the mutagenic activities toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 and reactivity with DNA of (+/-)-anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,6-dimethyl-ch rys ene (anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide) and anti-5,7- and anti-5,9-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide. The tumorigenic activities of anti-5,6- and anti-5,7-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxides in newborn mice were also investigated. anti-5,9-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide was the most mutagenic of the three diol epoxides. anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide was highly tumorigenic in newborn mouse lung, with activity significantly greater than that of either anti-5-MeC- or anti-5,7-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide. Although the amounts of total binding of the diol epoxides to calf thymus DNA were similar, anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide bound extensively to deoxyadenosine residues. High binding to deoxyadenosine is related to the presence of a sterically hindered bay or fjord region as present in 5,6-diMeC, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, benzo-[g]chrysene, and benzo[c]phenanthrene. The conformations of the anti- and syn-diol epoxides of 5,6-diMeC and benzo[c]phenanthrene were similar, with both having pseudodiequatorial hydroxyl groups, in contrast to less sterically crowded diol epoxides. The high tumorigenicity of anti-5,6-diMeC-1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide in newborn mice is of interest with respect to its high deoxyadenosine binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In previous studies, we have observed unexpected structure-tumorigenicity relationships among the dimethylchrysenes. Thus, 5,6-dimethylchrysene and 5,7-dimethylchrysene were only weakly tumorigenic and were significantly less active than 5-methylchrysene. These results were surprising in view of the known route of metabolic activation of 5-methylchrysene via its 1,2-diol 3,4-epoxide. In this paper, we extended our studies of structure-tumorigenicity relationships among the dimethylchrysenes. We synthesized 5,7-, 5,8-, 5,9-, and 5,10-dimethylchrysene via photochemical ring closure reactions. The tumor-initiating activities of these dimethylchrysenes on mouse skin were compared with those of 5-methylchrysene and 5,6-dimethylchrysene. 5-Methylchrysene and 5,9-dimethylchrysene were highly tumorigenic and were significantly more active than 5,6-, 5,7-, 5,8-, and 5,10-dimethylchrysene. The results of these studies, taken together with those reported in the subsequent two papers, suggest that the molecular shapes of dimethylchrysenes influence the balance between metabolic activation and detoxification pathways.

We determined the tumorigenicity in newborn mice of racemic anti-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides of chrysene, 5-methylchrysene, 5-ethylchrysene and 5-propylchrysene. Among the four diol epoxides, only anti-5-methylchrysene-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide was highly tumorigenic. It was 15-30 times more potent in induction of pulmonary tumors than the other compounds. The results demonstrate that molecular shape is critical in determining the tumorigenic activity of alkylchrysene diol epoxides. A methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring leads to exceptional activity. This may be a consequence of DNA adduct conformation.

The conformations of adducts derived from the covalent binding of four different isomeric diol epoxide derivatives of 5- or 6-methylchrysene to native double-stranded calf thymus DNA were studied by linear dichroism techniques. Out of four isomers investigated here, only the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene, (+)-5-MeCDE, is highly tumorigenic and mutagenic toward Salmonella typhimurium TA100; the S,R,R,S enantiomer, (-)-5-MeCDE, and the corresponding R,S,S,R and S,R,R,S enantiomers of anti-1,2,-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methylchrysene are non-tumorigenic and much less mutagenic than (+)-5-MeCDE. [Melikian et al., (1988) Cancer Res., 48, 1781-1787] Only the DNA adducts derived from the binding of (+)-5-MeCDE are characterized by a pronounced positive linear dichroism signal at 308 nm due to the phenanthrenyl residue which is tilted at an angle of 45-48 degrees with respect to the average orientations of the axes of unoriented DNA segments. The phenanthrenyl residues derived from the covalent binding to DNA of the other three inactive or less active isomers appear to be unoriented. The defined orientation of the covalently bound phenanthrenyl residues derived from (+)-5-MeCDE corresponds to adduct conformations which are similar to those obtained from the binding of the highly tumorigenic trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene stereoisomer and other highly active bay-region diol epoxide derivatives to DNA. These findings provide further evidence that there is a correlation between DNA adduct conformation and biological activities for these series of polycyclic aromatic diol epoxide derivatives with R,S,S,R absolute configuration and which are known to bind predominantly to N2 of guanine.

Previous studies showed that 5,6-dimethylchrysene (5,6-diMeC) and 5,7-diMec were significantly less tumorigenic than 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC). These results were unexpected based on the known mechanism of metabolic activation of 5-MeC and indicated the presence of critical steric requirements for tumorigenicity at the 6 and 7 positions of 5-MeC. In this study, the structure activity relationships were further extended by comparing the tumor-initiating activities on mouse skin of 5-MeC, 6,7-cyclopentano-5-MeC, 5,6-diMeC, 6,7-diMeC, 5,7-diMeC, chrysene and 6,7-cyclopentanochrysene. 5-MeC was the most tumorigenic compound, with activity significantly higher than all other compounds tested. Among the other compounds. Only 5,6-diMeC was significantly tumorigenic. The results demonstrate that substitution of methyl or methylene groups at the 6 or 7 positions of 5-MeC leads to a significant reduction of tumor initiating activity.

A series of compounds structurally related to the carcinogen and mutagen 5-methylchrysene (1) was synthesized and tested for mutagenicity toward S. typhimurium TA 100. The compounds prepared were 5,11-dimethylchrysene (2), 5-(hydroxymethyl)chrysene (3), 5-(acetoxymethyl)chrysene (4), 5-carbomethoxychrysene (5), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (6), 5-carbomethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (7), and 5H-chryseno[4,5-bcd]pyran-5-one (31). When tested in the presence of rat liver homogenate, 1 and 2 were active while 3--7 were less mutagenic than 1; 31 was highly mutagenic. The mutagenicity of 1 and 2 contrasts with the low activity of 5,12-dimethylchrysene, which supports the generalization that the structural requirements favoring activity are a bay-region methyl group and a free peri position, both adjacent to an unsubstituted angular ring. The low activity of 3--7 indicates that methyl oxidation is not an important activation process for 1. This agrees with previous studies in which the major proximate mutagen and carcinogen of 1 was identified as 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene.

The tumor initiating activities of 5,11-dimethylchrysene and 5-methylchrysene on mouse skin were compared. After initiating doses of 30 microgram or 10 microgram, with promotion by 3 times weekly applications of tetradecanoylphorbol acetate, both compounds were highly tumorigenic, inducing tumors in 70--85% of the treated animals. Since 5,12-dimethylchrysene had previously been shown to be only a weak tumor initiator, these results support the generalization that the structural requirements favoring carcinogenicity among the methylated chrysenes and other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are a bay region methyl group and a free peri position, both adjacent to an unsubstituted angular ring.

A method was developed for the analysis of 1-nitronaphthalene, 1-nitropyrene, and 6-nitrochrysene in mainstream cigarette smoke, using [14C]1-nitronaphthalene, [14C]1-nitropyrene, and [14C]6-nitrochrysene as tracers and internal standards. Cigarette smoke condensate was collected and the appropriate fractions containing the labelled standards were obtained by a series of solvent partitions and column chromatography. Recovery of internal standards ranged from 60 to 70%. The fractions were analyzed by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture detection and by combined capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 1-Nitronaphthalene (less than 10 ng/cigarette), 1-nitropyrene (less than 10 ng/cigarette), and 6-nitrochrysene (less than 1 ng/cigarette) were not detected in the mainstream smoke of the University of Kentucky 1R1 cigarette, a US commercial 85 mm non-filter cigarette, or a French commercial 70 mm non-filter cigarette.

The mutagenic activities of 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC) and its previously identified metabolites were evaluated in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98 in the presence and absence of metabolic activation by 9000 g supernatant from the livers of rats treated with Aroclor. 6-Aminochrysene (6-AC) and trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-aminochrysene (1,2-DHD-6-AC) were the most active mutagens in TA100 upon metabolic activation. 6-NC and 6-AC were the most active mutagens in TA100 in the absence of metabolic activation. Upon metabolic activation, 6-AC was the most active in TA98; the other compounds were weak or inactive depending on the conditions of the assay. In the absence of metabolic activation, the mutagenic activities of 6-NC and its metabolites in TA98 were comparable to those observed in TA100. The major metabolite formed upon incubation of [3H]6-NC with S.typhimurium TA100 and 9000 g supernatant from the livers of Aroclor-induced rats was identified as trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene (1,2-DHD-6-NC); trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene and 1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene were also identified. The major DNA adduct formed in TA100 under these conditions was chromatographically identical to that previously detected in vivo in the liver and lungs of newborn mice treated with 6-NC, as well as to that obtained upon incubation of 1,2-DHD-6-AC with calf thymus DNA in the presence of rat liver microsomes. The DNA adducts derived from 6-NC in S.typhimurium TA100 without activation were identical to those adducts previously identified after incubation of 6-hydroxylaminochrysene with calf thymus DNA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The major dihydrodiols formed from 5-methylchrysene by rat liver 9000 X g supernatant were tested for tumor-initiating activity on mouse skin. The compounds tested were 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, and 5-methylchrysene. Each compound was applied in a total initiating dose of 30 microgram and was followed by promotion with tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. 1,2-Dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene was the most powerful tumor initiator, inducing tumors in 95% of the animals and 7.3 tumors per animal. 5-Methylchrysene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene induced tumors in 75 and 50% of the animals and gave 3.0 and 1.1 tumors per animal, respectively. 9,10-Dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene was not tumorigenic. The results indicate that 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene is a major proximate carcinogen of 5-methylchrysene. Both 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene can theoretically form bay-region dihydrodiol epoxides, but the former was more tumorigenic than the latter. The high activity of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene is typical of hydrocarbon derivatives with a methyl group in the bay region adjacent to an unsubstituted angular ring.

6-Nitrobenzo[a]pyrene, 6-nitrochrysene, 3-nitroperylene, 1-nitropyrene, and the corresponding parent hydrocarbons were tested for tumor initiating activity on mouse skin with promotion by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate. The initiating doses of 6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene were 0.05 mg each; for all other compounds the initiating doses were 1.0 mg. 6-Nitrochrysene induced tumors in 60% of the mice (2.1 tumors per mouse), but was significantly less tumorigenic than chrysene. 3-Nitroperylene induced tumors in 42% of the mice (0.5 tumors per mouse) and was significantly more active than perylene. Neither 1-nitropyrene nor 6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene exhibited significant tumorigenic activity in the concentrations tested.

5-Methylchrysene (5-MeC) can form two bay region dihydrodiol epoxides: 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (DE-I) which has the methyl group and the epoxide ring in the same bay region, and 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,10-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (DE-II). In a previous study, we observed that the ratio of DE-I:DNA adducts to DE-II:DNA adducts in mouse epidermis, 24 h after application of [3H]5-MeC metabolites was 2.7 to 1. To investigate the basis for this observation we have now studies: (i) the formation of [3H]5-MeC in mouse epidermis in vivo at various time intervals from 0.33 to 24 h; (ii) the persistence of DE-I:DNA adducts and DE-II:DNA adducts in mouse epidermis at 4-48 h after application of [3H]5-MeC; and (iii) the reactions of DE-I and DE-II with calf thymus DNA in vitro. In contrast to results obtained with mouse liver 9000 grams supernatant, the dihydrodiol precursors of DE-I and DE-II were present in equivalent quantities in mouse epidermis in vivo at every time point studied. The ratio of DE-I:DNA adducts to DE-II:DNA adducts in mouse epidermis was constant throughout the time period studied. However, the extent of formation of DE-I:DNA adducts was greater than that of DE-II:DNA adducts upon reaction of DE-I or DE-II with calf thymus DNA in vitro. These results suggest that differences in reactivity with DNA of DE-I and DE-II may bw responsible for the higher levels in mouse epidermis of DE-I:DNA adducts compared with DE-II:DNA adducts and provide a possible basis for the observed enhancing effect of a bay region methyl group on the carcinogenicity of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.

It has previously been shown that 6-nitrochrysene can be activated to electrophilic species capable of reacting with DNA through metabolic pathways that form N-hydroxy-6-aminochrysene or trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-aminochrysene as critical intermediates. Since the lung is a known target tissue for the carcinogenic action of polycyclic nitroaromatic hydrocarbons, we investigated the metabolism and DNA binding of [3H]6-nitrochrysene in 11 specimens of human bronchus. Analysis of medium from [3H]6-nitrochrysene-treated explants indicated the presence of trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydro-6-nitrochrysene (0.04-330 pmol/mg epithelial DNA), trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-nitrochrysene (12-1700 pmol/mg epithelial DNA), 6-aminochrysene (1.6-2200 pmol/mg epithelial DNA), and trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-aminochyrsene (3.6-610 pmol/mg epithelial DNA). Both the levels and the relative proportions of these metabolites varied widely in explants from different individuals. The amount of DNA recovered and the level of DNA modification were sufficient for adduct analysis in eight of the 11 cases for which metabolite data were obtained. Five additional bronchial specimens for which metabolite data were not obtained were also analyzed for carcinogen-DNA adducts. The levels of binding varied from 0.06 to 30.5 pmol [3H]6-nitrochrysene bound/mg DNA (two adducts per 10(8) nucleotides-10 adducts per 10(6) nucleotides). HPLC analyses of enzymatic hydrolysates of the explant DNA indicated that 11 of 13 cases contained adducts with retention times identical to those of adducts derived from trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-aminochrysene or N-hydroxy-6-aminochrysene. The adduct derived from trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-aminochrysene was the major adduct detected in eight of 13 cases. The reasons for the variation in metabolism and adduct formation observed in [3H]6-nitrochrysene-treated explants of bronchus from different donors are not known but may reflect differences in the activities of enzymes responsible for the metabolism of this compound. The influence of induction of drug metabolizing enzymes on the activation pathway of 6-nitrochrysene in an intact cell system was tested using rat hepatocytes. 6-Nitrochrysene was incubated with freshly isolated hepatocytes from rats that were either untreated or pretreated with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or Aroclor 1254. Although the levels of adducts were similar in all cases, the pattern of DNA adducts formed in these hepatocytes was dependent on the nature of the pretreatment of the rats. As previously reported, hepatocytes from untreated rats contained adducts derived from N-hydroxy-6-aminochrysene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The reactions with DNA and mutagenic activities toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 of the R,S,S,R and S,R,R,S enantiomers of anti-1,2,-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide), anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide, and anti-6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide were compared because among these compounds only the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide is highly tumorigenic. The major products formed in the reaction of each racemic diol epoxide with DNA were two pairs of deoxyguanosine (dGuo) and deoxyadenosine (dAdo) adducts; one product in each pair was formed from the R,S,S,R enantiomer and the other from the S,R,R,S enantiomer of each racemic diol epoxide. Formation of products from R,S,S,R enantiomers exceeded formation of those from S,R,R,S enantiomers in each case. Among the R,S,S,R enantiomers, 5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide, which has a methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring, was most reactive toward DNA, and in particular toward dGuo. The dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios were greater for the products formed from the R,S,S,R enantiomer compared to the S,R,R,S enantiomer of each diol epoxide. The dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios were also greater for the enantiomers of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide than for the enantiomers of either anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide or anti-6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide. In S. typhimurium TA 100, the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide was the most mutagenic compound (6700 revertants/nmol), followed by the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (1500 revertants/nmol). The other diol epoxide enantiomers were weakly active or inactive at the doses tested. The results of this study demonstrate that both the absolute configuration of a diol epoxide and the position of the methyl group have major effects on its reactivity with DNA. The greatest reactivity is seen in an R,S,S,R enantiomer with the methyl group and epoxide ring in the same bay region, e.g., the highly tumorigenic and mutagenic 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide. Comparison of the dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios of the various diol epoxides with their tumorigenic and mutagenic activities suggests that dGuo adducts are important in the expression of biological activity of methylchrysene diol epoxides.

In order to explore the relationship between structure and mutagenicity of bay region diol-epoxides of chrysene substituted with an alkyl group in the bay region, we compared the mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 of anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene with its 5-methyl, 5-ethyl and 5-propyl derivatives. The results showed that anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (7400 revertants/nmol) was the most mutagenic of these diol-epoxides followed by anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene and its 5-ethyl derivative (1100 revertants/nmol). The 5-propyl substituted diol-epoxide was inactive at the doses tested. The results demonstrate that steric factors are dominant in the expression of methylchrysene diol-epoxide mutagenicity in S. typhimurium and suggest that the molecular shape of the 5-methyl substituted diol-epoxide leads to a unique reaction with DNA associated with high mutagenicity and tumorigenicity.

The stereochemistry of diol epoxide formation in mouse epidermis upon topical application of [3H]-1R,2R-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5-methylchrysene ([3H]-5-MeC-1R,2R-diol) and [3H]-6-MeC-1R,2R-diol, and the tumorigenicity in mouse skin and in newborn mice of the R,S,S,R and S,R,R,S enantiomers of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide), 5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide, and 6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide were examined. Analysis of tetraols and their derived tetraacetates present in mouse epidermis, 2 h after application of [3H]-5-MeC-1R,2R-diol or [3H]-6-MeC-1R,2R-diol, demonstrated greater than 90% stereoselectivity in formation of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide and 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide. Taken together with previous data, these results demonstrate that there is a high degree of stereoselectivity for formation of R,S,S,R enantiomers of 5-MeC- and 6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides in mouse skin. The results of the tumorigenicity studies in mouse skin and in newborn mice clearly demonstrated that 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide was the most tumorigenic of the diol epoxide enantiomers tested; 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide was inactive. The results of this study show that the high tumorigenicity of 5-MeC compared to 6-MeC is due to the remarkable tumorigenic activity of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide which, in contrast to 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide, has a methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring. We propose that such methyl bay region diol epoxides of other carcinogenic methylated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons will also show unique tumorigenic properties.

We compared the metabolic activation in mouse skin of the weak carcinogen 6-methylchrysene, which lacks a bay region methyl group, and the strong carcinogen 5-methylchrysene, which has a bay region methyl group. Metabolites of 6-methyl-chrysene were prepared using liver homogenates and were identified by their spectral properties and by comparison to synthetic standards as dihydrodiols, hydroxymethyl derivatives, and phenols; their relative levels of formation in liver homogenates from rats and mice were dependent on inducer pretreatment. In mouse skin in vivo, the major metabolite of 6-methyl-chrysene was trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-methylchrysene (6-MeC-1,2-diol), the precursor to a bay region dihydrodiol epoxide. Its concentration was greater than that of trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol) formed in mouse skin from 5-methylchrysene. Since 5-MeC-1,2-diol has been identified as a major proximate carcinogen of 5-methylchrysene, the further metabolism and tumorigenicity of 5-MeC-1,2-diol and 6-MeC-1,2-diol were compared. Both dihydrodiols were converted to 1,2,3,4-tetraols and to 1,2-dihydroxy metabolites to similar extents in mouse skin. However, 5-MeC-1,2-diol was significantly more active than was 6-MeC-1,2-diol as a tumor initiator on mouse skin. The formation of DNA adducts in mouse skin from 5-methylchrysene and 6-methylchrysene was compared. Both hydrocarbons gave qualitatively similar adduct patterns, but the formation of dihydrodiol epoxide type adducts was 1/20 as great from 6-methylchrysene as from 5-methylchrysene. The results of this study indicate that the weak tumorigenicity of 6-methylchrysene compared to that of 5-methylchrysene is not due to differing rates of formation or further metabolism of their 1,2-dihydrodiols but is a likely consequence of the lower activity of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methylchrysene compared to 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene; the unique structural feature of the latter is the presence of a methyl group and an epoxide ring in the same bay region.

Previous studies have shown that 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) is more carcinogenic on mouse skin than the other methylchrysenes and that the structural requirements favoring tumorigenicity of methylated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are the presence of a bay region methyl group and free peri position, both adjacent to an unsubstituted angular ring. The purpose of this study was to extend these structure-activity relationships to dimethylchrysenes. The following dimethylchrysenes were synthesized: 1,5-dimethylchrysene (1,5-diMeC), 5,6-diMeC, 5,7-diMeC, 5,12-diMeC, 1,6-diMeC, 6,7-diMeC, and 6,12-diMeC. Bioassays of these compounds for tumor-initiating activity on mouse skin demonstrated that all were significantly less tumorigenic than 5-MeC; only 5,6-diMeC had significant tumorigenic activity. Since the relatively low activities of 5,7-diMeC and 5,6-diMeC were unexpected on the basis of the structural requirements stated above, anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5,7-dimethylchrysene+ ++ (anti-5,7-diMeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide) was synthesized. Its mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium and reactivity with calf thymus DNA were compared to those of the major ultimate carcinogen of 5-MeC, anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide. It was strongly mutagenic (2500 revertants/nmol), although less active than anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide (7200 revertants/nmol). Its reactivity with calf thymus DNA was similar to that of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide. The results of this study demonstrate that the structural requirements which favor tumorigenicity of monomethylchrysenes are not sufficient for high tumorigenicity of dimethylchrysenes.

5-Methylchrysene is metabolically converted to the bay-region dihydrodiol-epoxides, trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (DE-I), in which the methyl group and the epoxide ring are in the same bay region, and trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (DE-II). Previous studies have indicated that DE-I is more important in 5-methylchrysene carcinogenesis than is DE-II. Both DE-I and DE-II were individually reacted with calf thymus DNA in vitro. The DNA was enzymatically hydrolyzed to deoxyribonucleosides, and the modified deoxyribonucleosides were separated by chromatography on Sephadex LH-20 and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. One major adduct and seven minor adducts were formed from each dihydrodiol-epoxide. The major adduct was, in each case, characterized by its pH-dependent partition coefficient, stability to base, mass spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum as a deoxyguanosine derivative resulting from addition of the exocyclic amino group of deoxyguanosine to the benzylic carbon of the epoxide ring of the dihydrodiol-epoxide. The results of this study show that the major DNA adducts formed from 5-methylchrysene via DE-I and DE-II are structurally similar.

The Servacel DHB (m-dihydroxyborylphenylaminoethyl cellulose) chromatographic procedure developed by Sawiki et al. (Cancer Res., 43,3212-3218, 1983) for analysis of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-DNA adducts was applied to analyze syn- and anti-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (DE-I)-deoxyribonucleoside adducts. Identical elution conditions to whose developed for the DMBA adducts were employed. While the results were similar to those obtained in the DMBA system, some of the anti-DE-I-deoxyribonucleoside adducts eluted with the buffer system used for elution of syn-adducts. Complete resolution of the anti- and syn-adducts was obtained when modified elution conditions as developed by Pruess-Schwartz et al. (Cancer Res., 44, 4104-4110, 1984) for analysis of syn- and anti-7 alpha-8 beta-dihydroxy-9 beta, 10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-pyrene--DNA adducts were applied. Based on this chromatographic procedure about 15% of the DE-I-deoxyribonucleoside adducts, formed in mouse skin DNA upon treatment with 5-[3H]methylchrysene (MeC), originated from syn-DE-I.

6-Nitrochrysene (NC) is a potent lung and liver carcinogen when administered in multiple doses to preweanling mice. We have investigated both the in vitro metabolism of [3H]NC by 9000 g supernatants (S9) prepared from the livers of preweanling mice and the in vivo metabolism of [3H]NC in these animals. The in vitro covalent binding of primary metabolites of NC to DNA after further reductive and/or oxidative metabolism was then examined in an attempt to define the metabolic activation pathway responsible for the formation of carcinogen--DNA adducts in NC-treated preweanling mice. NC-1,2-dihydrodiol, NC-9,10-dihydrodiol, 6-aminochrysene (AC), and several unidentified compounds were found in ethyl acetate extracts of incubations containing [3H]NC and liver S9 from 1- or 8-day-old BLU:Ha mice. Comparison of the in vivo metabolism of NC in 1-day-old animals and 8-day-old animals which had been treated with NC on day 1 indicated that the formation of AC and the two NC dihydrodiols was greater in the younger animals. Further metabolism of NC-1,2-dihydrodiol by S9 from 8-day-old mice yielded AC-1,2-dihydrodiol as a major product. Incubation of AC-1,2-dihydrodiol, calf thymus DNA and liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rats yielded a single major adduct that was chromatographically and chemically identical to the major adduct formed in [3H]NC- and [3H]-AC-treated preweanling mice. The results indicated that the major DNA adduct found in vivo is derived from the further metabolism of the proximate carcinogen AC-1,2-dihydrodiol.

The syn- and anti-isomers of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methylchrysene (6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide) were synthesized and their mutagenic activities in Salmonella typhimurium were compared with those of the syn- and anti-isomers of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide). The most mutagenic compound was anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide, followed by syn-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide. At the same doses, neither of the 6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides was mutagenic. These results demonstrate the enhancing effect on mutagenicity of a methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring of a diol epoxide.

The binding of tritium-labeled 5-methylchrysene to DNA of CD-1 mouse skin 24 hr after treatment has been studied. DNA was isolated from the treated skin areas of mice and hydrolyzed enzymatically to deoxyribonucleosides, and the hydrolysate was chromatographed on a Sephadex LH-20 column using a methanol:water gradient. The major adducts eluted between 70 and 100 ml (Peak 1), 470 and 590 ml (Peaks 2A to C), and 750 and 850 ml (peak 3). For identification of these products, markers were prepared from 5-methylchrysene bay-region dihydrodiol epoxides. [5-14C]1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene and [5-14C]7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene were synthesized by reacting the corresponding metabolically formed [5-14C]1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene and [5-14C]7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene with m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid. The structures of the dihydrodiol epoxides were established by their mass spectra and by hydrolysis to tetrols. Peak 2B was chromatographically indistinguishable, both on Sephadex LH-20 and reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, from the adduct formed when [5-14C]1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene was reacted with salmon sperm DNA in solution. Similarly, Peak 2A was chromatographically inseparable from the [5-14C]7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene:DNA adduct. Adduct 2B was formed to a greater extent than adduct 2A by the ratio of 2.7 to 1. These data indicate that 5-methylchrysene preferentially forms DNA adducts from the bay-region dihydrodiol epoxide adjacent to the methyl group.

The rates of hydrolysis in the absence and presence of native and denatured DNA, and the extents of DNA binding of five dihydrodiol epoxides derived from 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) and chrysene have been determined. The compounds studied were: trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC; trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-Mec; trans-1,2-dihydroxy-syn-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC; trans-7,8-dihydroxy-syn-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-MeC; and trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene. In the absence of DNA, at pH 7 and 37 degrees C half-lives of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-syn-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC and trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC were similar, t 1/2 = 62 and 59 min, while trans-7,8-dihydroxy-syn-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-MeC hydrolyzed faster than trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-MeC, t 1/2 = 5.4 versus 17.5 min; trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene had the slowest rate of hydrolysis, t 1/2 = 104 min. Studies of the effects of native and denatured DNA on the rates of hydrolysis of the dihydrodiol epoxides indicated that native DNA remarkably accelerated these rates for all dihydrodiol epoxides, but the degree of acceleration varied for the different dihydrodiol epoxides. The acceleration of hydrolytic rates by native DNA relative to that by denatured DNA was correlated with the covalent binding of these dihydrodiol epoxides with DNA in vitro. The catalytic effect of DNA in enhancing the rates of hydrolysis of dihydrodiol epoxides and the relative extents of covalent binding of the dihydrodiol epoxides to DNA were in the following order: trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC greater than trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-MeC greater than trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene greater than trans-1,2-dihydroxy-syn-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC greater than trans-7,8-dihydroxy-syn-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-MeC. The results of this study suggest that physical interactions with DNA are important in determining the relative extents of binding of these dihydrodiol epoxides to DNA in vitro.

The tumorigenic activities of 6-nitrochrysene and its metabolites were evaluated in the newborn mouse model. Groups of mice were treated with the appropriate compounds in DMSO by i.p. injections on the 1st, 8th and 15th day of life. Seven hundred nmol/mouse of 6-nitrochrysene induced significant incidences and multiplicities of lung tumors in both sexes; only males were susceptible to liver tumor induction. At 100 nmol/mouse, 6-nitrochrysene had significant tumorigenicity in both lung and liver but was less active than at the higher dose. Administration of 100 nmol/mouse of 6-nitrochrysene, only on day 1, caused about the same tumor yield as was observed after treatment with 700 nmol/mouse given over 3 days. Among the metabolites of 6-nitrochrysene which were tested at 100 nmol/mouse, 6-nitrosochrysene and 6-aminochrysene were significantly less active in the lung and in the liver than 6-nitrochrysene. In the lung, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene and trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-aminochrysene had activities comparable to those observed in mice treated with equimolar doses of 6-nitrochrysene. In the liver, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene was more active than 6-nitrochrysene based on the number of tumors per mouse. These observations support our hypothesis that 6-nitrochrysene is metabolically activated by ring-oxidation to trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene, followed by nitro-reduction to trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-aminochrysene and, finally, oxidation to a diol-epoxide.

5-Methylchrysene, (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-anti-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (anti-DE-I), (+/-)-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-syn-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (syn-DE-I), and (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-anti-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (anti-DE-II) were tested for tumorigenicity in newborn mice and for tumor-initiating activity on mouse skin. In newborn mice, a total dose of 56 nmol of anti-DE-I induced 4.6 lung tumors/mouse and 1.2 liver tumors/mouse. These incidences were significantly higher than observed for any of the other metabolites, tested at equimolar doses. The results indicate that anti-DE-I, but not syn-DE-I or anti-DE-II, is a major ultimate carcinogen of 5-methylchrysene in the newborn mouse. Anti-DE-I was also more tumorigenic than anti-DE-II on mouse skin, inducing 4.4 tumors/mouse after an initiating dose of 100 nmol, compared to zero tumors per mouse induced by anti-DE-II. However, anti-DE-I was less tumorigenic on mouse skin than was its metabolic precursor, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene or its parent hydrocarbon, 5-methylchrysene.

We investigated the in vitro metabolism by mouse and rat liver 9000 x g supernatant of the strong tumor initiator, 5,11-dimethylchrysene (5,11-diMeC) and its inactive analogue, 5,12-dimethylchrysene (5,12-diMeC). Ethyl acetate soluble metabolites were separated by h.p.l.c. and identified by their u.v. and m.s. and by comparison to selected synthetic reference standards. Both compounds were converted to dihydrodiols, chrysenols, hydroxymethylchrysenes, and hydroxymethylchrysenols. The peri 12-methyl group of 5,12-diMeC strongly inhibited metabolism at the adjacent 1,2-positions. Thus, the ratio of 7-hydroxy-5,12-diMeC to 1-hydroxy-5,12-diMeC was approximately 100 to 1 when 5,12-diMeC was metabolized by liver supernatants from 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated mice and rats. In addition, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5,12-diMeC was preferentially formed over 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5,12-diMeC by liver supernatants from control, 3-methylcholanthrene pretreated, and Aroclor pretreated animals. In contrast, the presence of a methyl group at the 11 position of 5,11-diMeC did not inhibit formation of 1-hydroxy-5,11-diMeC or 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5,11-diMeC. Since 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy metabolites of 5-methylchrysene derivatives are potential proximate tumorigens, these results may provide a basis for the higher tumorigenicity of 5,11-diMeC than of 5,12-diMeC.

Liver 9000 X g supernatant from rats was used to study the metabolism of [6- 14C]nitrochrysene under aerobic conditions. The major ethyl acetate-soluble metabolite (1.06 nmol/mg of protein in 30 min) was identified as 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene, based on its mass, UV, and proton magnetic resonance spectra. Under aerobic conditions, 6-aminochrysene was not detected as a metabolite. However, when incubations were carried out in an atmosphere of 4% O2 in N2, both 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene (0.04 nmol/mg of protein) and 6-aminochrysene (0.05 nmol/mg of protein) were detected. Further metabolism of the 14C-labeled 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene by rat liver 9000 X g supernatant under aerobic conditions gave a major metabolite which was identified tentatively as 1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene. The mutagenic activities of 6-nitrochrysene, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene and 6-aminochrysene were assessed in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA98. In the absence of rat liver 9000 X g supernatant, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene was the more potent mutagen in TA100 but, in TA98, it was less active than was 6-nitrochrysene. In the presence of rat liver 9000 X g supernatant, both trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene and 6-nitrochrysene were more mutagenic in TA100 than in the assays performed without an activating system, and the dihydrodiol metabolite was more mutagenic than was 6-nitrochrysene. In TA98 with activation, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene, 6-aminochrysene, and 6-nitrochrysene were all mutagenic. The results of this study indicate that trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitrochrysene is a major proximate mutagen of 6-nitrochrysene in S. typhimurium TA100.

The mutagenic activities in Salmonella typhimurium and tumorigenic activities in newborn mice of 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC), 5-methyl-6-nitrochrysene (5-Me-6-NC), 11-methyl-6-nitrochrysene (11-Me-6-NC) and 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) were compared. In S. typhimurium TA100 in the absence of rat liver 9000 g supernatant, 11-Me-6-NC was the most active compound followed by 6-NC; 5-Me-6-NC and 5-MeC were inactive. In the assays conducted in the presence of rat liver 9000 g supernatant, the order of activity was 11-Me-6-NC greater than 6-NC greater than 5-Me-6-NC approximately 5-MeC. In S. typhimurium TA98 a similar trend was observed. For the tumorigenicity studies, groups of mice were treated with the appropriate compounds in DMSO by i.p. injections on the 1st, 8th and 15th day of life. At a dose of 100 nmol/mouse 6-NC induced significantly more lung tumors than 5-MeC, which in turn was more active than 11-Me-6-NC and 5-Me-6-NC. All compounds induced significant numbers of liver tumors in treated males compared to controls; the order of activity was the same as that observed for lung tumor induction. The results of this study clearly indicate that bay region methyl substitution can either inhibit (5-position) or enhance (11-position) the mutagenic activity of 6-NC. In contrast, bay region methyl substitution (5- and 11-positions) inhibited the tumorigenic activity of 6-NC in newborn mice. Since ring oxidation and nitroreduction are involved in the metabolic activation of 6-NC in newborn mice, bay region methyl substitution may either inhibit the nitroreduction pathway or hinder the formation of the appropriate bay region diol epoxide. Steric factors may be important in determining the tumorigenicity of methylated nitrochrysenes.

The stereoselectivity of mouse skin metabolic activation to dihydrodiols of the strong carcinogen 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) and the weak carcinogen 6-methylchrysene (6-MeC) was investigated. Synthetic 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol), 5-MeC-7,8-diol, and 6-MeC-1,2-diol were resolved into their R,R- and S,S-enantiomers by chiral stationary phase high performance liquid chromatography. The absolute configurations of the enantiomers were assigned by their circular dichroism spectra. Using these enantiomers as standards, the metabolism of 5-MeC and 6-MeC in vitro in rat and mouse liver and in vivo in mouse epidermis was investigated. Only the R,R-enantiomers of each dihydrodiol predominated (greater than 90%). The dihydrodiol enantiomers were tested for tumor initiating activity on mouse skin. In each case, the R,R-dihydrodiol enantiomer was significantly more tumorigenic than the S,S-enantiomer. The most tumorigenic compound was 5-MeC-1R,2R-diol; it was significantly more active than either 5-MeC-7R,8R-diol or 6-MeC-1R,2R-diol. The results of this study demonstrate that there is a high degree of stereoselectivity in the metabolic activation of 5-MeC and 6-MeC to proximate tumorigenic dihydrodiols in mouse skin. The bay region methyl group has no effect on the stereoselectivity of activation to 1,2-dihydrodiol metabolites in the chrysene system.

The presence of a bay-region methyl group in carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons leads to considerable distortion in the molecule. This is illustrated in the structures, obtained by X-ray diffraction techniques, of 5,12- and 5,6-dimethylchrysene. The molecular distortions result from steric requirements, such as that the minimum H...H distance is 1.8 A and the minimum C...C distance is 2.90 A; distortions to accommodate these requirements may be both in-plane (by increasing the angles at carbon atoms in the bay-region from 120 degrees to approximately 124 degrees) and out-of-plane by torsion about certain bonds in the bay-region. It is shown that more in-plane distortions are found for 5-methylchrysene derivatives than for methylbenz[a]anthracene derivatives and this, it is suggested, results from the nature of the flexibility of the chrysene compared with the benz[a]anthracene fragment at the bay-region.

6-Nitro-5-methylchrysene was prepared by nitration of 5-methylchrysene and the mutagenic and tumorigenic activities of the two compounds were compared. Whereas 5-methylchrysene was a strong tumor initiator on mouse skin, no tumors were observed in the mice treated with 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene. In Salmonella typhimurium TA100, both compounds were mutagenic in the presence, but not in the absence, of rat liver 9000 g supernatant. The major metabolite of 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene in rat liver in vitro was trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitro-5-methylchrysene. In view of the ready conversion of 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene to a 1,2-dihydrodiol, its apparent lack of tumorigenicity in mouse skin was intriguing.

The metabolic activation of the environmental carcinogen 5-methylchrysene was studied by combining high-pressure liquid chromatographic analysis of metabolites formed in vitro with assays of these metabolites for mutagenic activity toward Salmonella typhimurium. Metabolites were formed by incubation of 5-methylchrysene with the 9000 x g supernatant from Aroclor-treated rat livers. With the use of reverse-phase columns, the metabolites were resolved into nine peaks, A to I. Each peak was collected and tested for mutagenicity with activiation. Significant mutagenic activity was observed primarily in peak E and to a lesser extent in peak D. None of the other metabolites showed significant mutagenic activity. The major mutagenic metabolite (peak E) was identified as 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (7.0% from 5-methylchrysene); Peak D was 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (2.6% from 5-methylchrysene). Other metabolites included 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 9-hydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 7-hydroxy-5-methylchrysene, 1-hydroxy-5-methylchrysene, and 5-hydroxymethylchrysene. These results indicate that 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene is a major proximate mutagen of 5-methylchrysene.

The tumor initiating activity on mouse skin of 5-hydroxymethylchrysene (5-HOMeC), a major metabolite of the carcinogen, 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC), was investigated. After an initiating dose of 30 microgram, with promotion by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate, 5-HOMeC induced skin tumors in 90% of the animals, with 9.5 tumors/mouse, 5-MeC gave a 75% incidence of skin tumors with 6.2 tumors/mouse. The tumorigenic activities after a 10 microgram initiating dose were; 5-HOMeC, 45% skin tumor-bearing animals and 2.6 tumors/-mouse; 5-MeC, 55% skin tumor-bearing animals and 5.6 tumors/mouse. In contrast, 6-hydroxy-methylchrysene was inactive. To investigate the mechanism of activation of 5-HOMeC, 3-fluoro-5-hydroxymethylchrysene (3-F-5-HOMeC) and 7-fluoro-5-hydroxymethylchrysene (7-F-5-HOMeC) were prepared and assayed for tumor initiating activity at a dose of 30 microgram. 7-F-5-HOMeC gave 95% tumor-bearing animals and 7.9 tumors/animal whereas 3-F-5-HOMeC gave only 5% tumor-bearing animals and 0.1 s/animal. The inhibition of tumorigenicity by substitution of fluorine at the 3-position, but not the 7-position of 5-HOMeC is strictly analogous to results obtained previously with 5-MeC and suggests a similar mechanism of activation for both compounds. The metabolites formed upon incubation of 5-HOMeC with cofactors and the 9000 x g supernatant from Aroclor pretreated rats were separated by h.p.l.c. The 1,2-dihydrodiol and 7,8-dihydrodiol of 5-HOMeC were identified. The major phenolic metabolite was identified as 1-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethylchrysene. In the in vitro metabolism of 7-F-5-HOMeC under the same conditions, we identified the 1,2-dihydrodiol but not the 7,8-dihydrodiol. In the metabolism of 3-F-5-HOMeC, oxidation in the 1-4 ring was inhibited relative to that observed in the metabolism of 5-HOMeC. These results suggest that 5-HOMeC is activated primarily through formation of its 1,2-dihydrodiol.

The metabolic activation in mouse skin of the strong carcinogen, 5-methylchrysene (5-MeC) was compared to that of the inactive compound, 6-nitro-5-methylchrysene (6-NO2-5-MeC). Metabolites of 6-NO2-5-MeC, formed using rat liver homogenates, were identified based on their spectral properties and were used as markers for studies performed in vivo. In mouse epidermis in vivo, the identified metabolites of 6-NO2-5-MeC were trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-6-nitro-5-methylchrysene (6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol), the precursor to a bay region dihydrodiol epoxide, trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-6-nitro-5-methylchrysene, and 6-nitro-5-hydroxymethylchrysene. The levels of 6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol formed in mouse epidermis from 6-NO2-5-MeC were greater than those of the proximate carcinogen trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxy-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol) formed from 5-MeC. The further metabolism of 6-NO2-5-MeC-1,2-diol was examined in mouse epidermis under conditions similar to those described previously for 5-MeC-1,2-diol. The extents of formation of 1,2,3,4-tetraols from both dihydrodiols were similar. The chromatographic patterns of DNA adducts formed in mouse epidermis from 6-NO2-5-MeC and 5-MeC were qualitatively similar; however, the extent of formation of DNA adducts from 5-MeC was 15-fold greater than from 6-NO2-5-MeC. The reactions between calf thymus DNA and the bay region 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides of 5-MeC and 6-NO2-5-MeC were compared; the levels of adducts formed from the bay region diol epoxide of 5-MeC were about four times greater than those formed from the bay region diol epoxide of 6-NO2-5-MeC. The results indicate that the relatively low DNA binding in vivo of 6-NO2-5-MeC may be responsible for its apparent lack of tumorigenicity compared to 5-MeC. It is likely that nitro substitution at the 6-position of 5-MeC interferes with the structural requirements of the 1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide which are necessary for specific DNA interactions.