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Specificity of chemiluminescence in the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene to its carcinogenic diol epoxide

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

The metabolism of 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene results primarily in the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite of benzo(a)pyrene, 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene and to a lesser extent 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-dioxetane-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene, from which chemiluminescence is observed. This specific microsomal chemiluminescence has been used to establish that the rate-limiting reaction in the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene to the bay region diol epoxide is the production of the 7,8-diol. The microsome-mediated chemiluminescence of the parent benzo(a)pyrene is therefore an indicator of the activity of the specific sequence of metabolic reactions leading to the ultimate carcinogenic metabolite.

Research Organization:
Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD
OSTI ID:
6503517
Journal Information:
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 78:2; ISSN PNASA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English