The Ah locus: genetic regulation of the metabolism of carcinogens, drugs, and other environmental chemicals by cytochrome P-450-mediated monooxygenases.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D W Nebert.
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The "Ah cluster" is a group of regulatory, temporal, and structural genes associated with the inducibility of numerous monooxygenase activities by polycyclic aromatic compounds such as 3-methylcholanthrene. Age- and tissue-specific differences in temporal control of these enzymes are shown to exist. These differences could be important in the age- and tissue-specific differences in one's susceptibility to cancer, drug toxicity, and birth defects. Allelic differences at the Ah locus are shown in the mouse to be associated with benzo[a]-pyrene-produced in utero toxicity: increased stillborns, resorptions, and dysmorphogenesis, plus decreased fetal weight.
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In the liver of perinatal rats or mice, the ratio of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase to total cytochrome P-450 content decreases, whereas the ratio of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced acetanilide 4-hydroxylase to total cytochrome P-450 content increases, between 18 or 19 days and 22 days following conception. The ontogenesis of inducible aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase corresponds well with increases in a 56000-Mr electrophoretic band; we suggest this band represents the cytochrome P1-450 subunit. The later temporal expression of inducible acetanilide 4-hydroxylase closely parallels 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced increases in size of a 54000-Mr electrophoretic band and a 2--3-nm hypsochromic shift in the Soret peak of the total microsomal reduced cytochrome P-450 . CO complex. We suggest this band represents the cytochrome P-448 subunit. Previous work from this laboratory has shown that this developmental difference is separated by several weeks in rabbit liver, as compared with several day's separation shown in this report with rat or mouse liver. The data here therefore provide evidence in the rodent for temporal control of the expression of different structural gene products regulated by the Ah locus.
The Ahb/Ahb homozygous and the Ahb/Ahd heterozygous inbred mouse strains from the (C57BL/6)(DBA/2)F1 X DBA/2 backcross are genetically responsive to 3-methylcholanthrene. They both also develop, within 6 hours after a large intraperitoneal dose of acetaminophen, an irreversible opacity in the anterior portion of the lens. Such cataract formation does not occur in similarly treated nonresponsive inbred strains or nonresponsive Ahd/Ahd individuals from the same backcross. Differences in acetaminophen metabolism and toxicity are associated with the Ah locus in the mouse, and differences in heritability at the Ah locus exist in the human. Our ophthalmologic findings may be important clinically to certain patients receiving either a single large overdose of this drug or high doses over a long period.
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Sonicates of human cultured lymphocytes metabolize (benzo(a)pyrene to at least two intermediates that bind covalently to deproteinized DNA in vitro. The major peak represents the 4,5-oxide bound to nucleoside(s). No correlation is found between 'aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity' (or its inducibility) and benzo(a)pyrene metabolites generated by human lymphocytes and bound to DNA in vitro. Human liver microsomes produce in vitro at least six such reactive intermediates which, bound to deproteinized DNA nucleosides, are separable by chromatography. The major peak represents the 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxides bound to nucleoside(s): this highly reactive intermediate is believed to be one of the ultimate carcinogenic forms of benzo(a)pyrene.
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