The activity of 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase in animal tissues in relation to carcinogenesis

3-Methyladenine is one of the major products formed by reaction of a large number of environmental methylating agents with DNA in vivo and in vitro. In spite of the rapid spontaneous depurination of this base an enzyme, 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase, has been shown to catalyse its excision. The relevance of this enzyme in carcinogenesis induced by alkylating agents was studied. Acute or chronic treatment of rats with diethylnitrosamine or with N-acetylaminofluorene caused a slight increase in glycosylase activity in liver. Experiments with liver regenerating after partial hepatectomy showed a similar increase to occur at the time of DNA replication. It could be that the increase found after treatment with carcinogens was related to the accompanying increase in cell replication, rather than being the result of a specific induction by the carcinogen. Glycosylase activity was found to be higher in the liver of the rabbit and cat than in rat or hamster liver. Organ differences (liver, kidney and brain of the rabbit) were smaller than the species differences found for enzyme activity in liver.