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Title: Identification of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene metabolites that lead to mutagenesis in mammalian cells

Journal Article · · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

The mutagenicity of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)-anthracene (DMBA) and 11 of its metabolites was tested with Chinese hamster V79 cells. Mutations were characterized by resistance to ouabain and 6-thioguanine. None of the tested metabolites was mutagenic in V79 cells, which do not metabolize polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. DMBA, 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methylbenz(a)anthracene, 7-methyl-12-hydroxymethylbenz(a)anthracene, and their trans-3,4-diols were mutagenic for both genetic markers, and the mutagenic response increased as a function of the hydrocarbon dose. All other metabolites were either inactive or showed up to a 4-fold higher mutation frequency than the untreated V79 cells for ouabain and 6-thioguanine resistance. The DMBA-trans-3,4-diol was the only metabolite that was more active than DMBA itself; at 0.05 ..mu..M it was 6 to 8 times more active than DMBA.in inducing both ouabain and 6-thioguanine resistance. This diol was mutagenic at a dose as low as 0.01 ..mu..M. Mutagenesis by DMBA and the trans-3,4-diols was inhibited by 7,8-benzoflavone, an inhibitor of mixed-function oxidases. Analysis of DMBA metabolism in intact golden hamster cells indicated that DMBA-trans-3,4-diol is one of the major metabolites produced. Our results therefore suggest that DMBA-trans-3,4-diol may be metabolized to a diol-epoxide, presumably the trans-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide, which may be a major reactive metabolite responsible for DMBA mutagenicity in mammalian cells.

DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5059510
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Vol. 76:2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English