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PubMed1986

Convenient synthesis of racemic mixed-chain ether glycerophosphocholines from fatty alkyl allyl ethers: useful analogs for biophysical studies.

Diether glycerophosphocholines containing one long and one short chain were synthesized in moderate yield. The synthesis of a diether glycerophosphocholine containing a branched chain and a straight chain is also described. Alkylation of fatty alcohol with allyl bromide and dimethyl sulfoxide anion gave fatty alkyl allyl ether, which was hydroxylated and tritylated. By procedures described previously, 1-O-alkyl-3-O-triphenyl-methylglycerol was alkylated, detritylated, and converted into the phosphocholine product. This method is of general utility for the preparation of a variety of mixed-chain racemic glycerophosphocholines whose physical properties are of interest in studies of biological membranes.

Allyl Compounds↗

PubMed1986

Surface membrane O-alkyl lipid concentration and metastasizing behavior in transplantable rat mammary carcinomas.

Whole cell and surface membrane O-alkyl and alk-1-enyl lipid concentrations of 11 transplantable rat mammary carcinomas were measured. A correlation was found between surface membrane O-alkyl lipid levels and metastasizing behavior. No relationship was found between alk-1-enyl lipid concentrations and metastasizing behavior. A possible correlation was found between the product of growth rate and rank order of metastasizing behavior versus surface membrane O-alkyl lipid concentration. Growth rate alone did not correlate with surface membrane O-alkyl lipid concentration.

Alkenes↗

PubMed1985

[Inhibition of enzymes of insecticide detoxication in insects by an alkylating analog of a cytochrome P-450 substrate].

It was shown that the alkylating analog of cytochrome P-450 substrate - 4-bromomethyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl effectively inhibits in vitro the activities of monooxygenases, glutathione-S-transferases and esterases from the abdomen of the house fly Musca domestica L. The non-alkylating analog (RH) appeared to be a very weak inhibitor of these enzymes. It was demonstrated that the inhibitory action of the alkylating analog consists in its covalent binding to the enzyme protein. Topical application of the cytochrome P-450 alkylating analog on insects led to a decrease of the enzyme activity by approximately 20%.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

Relationship of molecular structure to the in vivo-distribution of carbon-11-labeled compounds. V. Carbon-11-labeled N-alkyl-p-iodobenzenesulfonamides.

Carbon 11-labeled HCN was collected in methanol containing carrier NaCN following bombardment of 99% N2-1% H2 with 22 MeV protons. Ten new N-alkyl-p-iodobenzenesulfonamides were synthesized and labeled with 11C in radiochemical yields averaging 27% by condensation of p-iodobenzenesulfonyl chloride with the 11C-labeled aliphatic amine obtained by reduction of the intermediate 11C-labeled aliphatic nitrile prepared from Na 11CN and the corresponding alkyl bromide. They were chemically characterized and for nine of them the relationship between their molecular structure and their in vivo-distribution in rats was studied. As the length of the alkyl chain was increased from 2 to 8 carbon atoms, the early concentration of activity in most viscera decreased and the urinary excretion increased. Within this range, chains containing an even number of carbon atoms showed greater early tissue concentration of activity than did chains containing an odd number of carbon atoms. For alkyl chains containing greater than 8 carbon atoms the concentration of activity in some tissues increased and urinary excretion decreased. A possible explanation for the results is offered which postulates that early tissue concentration of activity is related to both total lipophilicity of the sulfonamide as well as to the presence of tissue sulfonamide binding sites whose preferred conformation results in hindred binding of sulfonamides with odd-numbered aliphatic chains to a greater extent than with even-numbered aliphatic chains.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Inhibition of electron transfer by 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones in the ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductases of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and mammalian mitochondria. Interaction with a ubiquinone-binding site and the Rieske iron-sulfur cluster.

3-Alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones (alkyl-HNQ) inhibit Rieske iron-sulfur cluster (Rieske FeS) oxidation and cytochrome b reduction in ubiquinol-cytochrome c oxidoreductase. The effects are the same as those of 5-undecyl-6-hydroxy-4,7-dioxobenzothiazole. Concentrations for 50% inhibition in chromatophores of Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides (at 0.4 microM reaction center) are 2 microM for undecyl-, 3 microM for octyl-, and 40 microM for pentyl-substituted hydroxynaphthoquinones. The ethyl-substituted and unsubstituted derivatives do not inhibit electron transfer below 2 mM. In chromatophores in which the ubiquinone is partially extracted by isooctane (leaving 4 ubiquinones/reaction center), undecyl-HNQ is effective at 2.5 times lower concentration than in normal chromatophores (30 ubiquinones/reaction center). This observation suggests that the binding of the inhibitor is competitive with ubiquinone. Undecyl-HNQ eliminates the effect that the ubiquinone redox state has on the line shape of the EPR signal of Rieske FeS. This supports the idea that alkyl-HNQ shares a common binding site with ubiquinone which is closely associated with Rieske FeS. The ubiquinone in question has a midpoint oxidation-reduction potential at pH 7 of 90 mV with a -60 mV/pH unit dependency. This value matches that of the ubiquinone pool rather than that of ubiquinone Z, which is functionally recognized as a component "between" cytochrome b and Rieske FeS. When Rieske FeS is oxidized, a 20 times higher concentration of undecyl-HNQ is required for the electron transfer inhibition. This is consistent with the observation that the binding of the inhibitor shifts the midpoint oxidation-reduction potential of Rieske FeS about 60 mV higher, which in turn means that the inhibitor binds about 10 times stronger to the site when Rieske FeS is reduced than when it is oxidized. The observations suggest that 3-alkyl-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinones inhibit electron transfer by acting as ubiquinone antagonists at a site closely associated with Rieske FeS.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

Inactivation of human placental 17 beta,20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase by 16-methylene estrone, an affinity alkylator enzymatically generated from 16-methylene estradiol-17 beta.

The substrate 16-methylene estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17 beta-diol (16-methylene estradiol-17 beta) and its enzyme-generated alkylating product, 3-hydroxy-16-methylene estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-one (16-methylene estrone), were synthesized to study the 17 beta- and 20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities which coexist in homogeneous enzyme purified from human placental cytosol. 16-Methylene estradiol, an excellent substrate (Km = 8.0 microM; Vmax = 2.8 mumol/mg/min) when enzymatically oxidized to 16-methylene estrone in the presence of NAD+ (256 microM), inactivates simultaneously the 17 beta- and 20 alpha-activities in a time-dependent and irreversible manner following pseudo-first order kinetics (t1/2 = 1.0 h, 100 microM, pH 9.2). 16-Methylene estradiol does not inactivate the enzyme in the absence of NAD+. 16-Methylene estrone (Km = 2.7 microM; Vmax = 2.9 mumol/mg/min) is an affinity alkylator (biomolecular rate constant k'3 = 63.3 liters/mol-s, pH 9.2; KI = 261 microM; k3 = 8.0 X 10(-4) S-1, pH 7.0) which also simultaneously inhibits both activities in an irreversible time-dependent manner (at 25 microM; t1/2 = 7.2 min, pH 9.2; t1/2 = 2.7 h, pH 7.0). Substrates (estradiol-17 beta, estrone, and progesterone) protect against inhibition of enzyme activity by 16-methylene estrone and 16-methylene estradiol. Affinity radioalkylation studies using 16-methylene [6,7-3H]estrone demonstrate that 1 mol of alkylator binds per mol of inactivated enzyme dimer. Thus, 16-methylene estradiol functions as a unique substrate for the enzymatic generation of a powerful affinity alkylator of 17 beta,20 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and should be a useful pharmacological tool.

20-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed1983

Alkyl derivatized cellulose acetate membranes with enhanced albumin affinity.

Alkylation techniques have been developed for C16 derivatization of cellulose acetate membranes. High yields of alkylated cellulose acetate were obtained which led to correspondingly high yields in albumin adsorption. Centrifugation improved impurity removal and enhanced albumin binding to the membrane. The affinity of the alkylated membranes for albumin diminished with increasing degrees of alkylation, which we attribute to steric hindrance effects. The results suggest that improved thromboresistance may be obtained by such means for hemodialysis, plasmapheresis and other filtration applications.

Adsorption↗

PubMed1983

The mechanism of ether bond formation in O-alkyl lipid synthesis in Ehrlich ascites tumor. Unusual cleavage of the fatty acid moiety of acyl dihydroxyacetone phosphate.

We have previously presented evidence for the formation of 1-O-alkyl dihydroxyacetone-P from acyl dihydroxyacetone-P via the initial formation of an intermediate 1-O-acyl endiol of acyl dihydroxyacetone-P. This reaction involves a stereospecific exchange of the pro-R hydrogen of the acyl dihydroxyacetone-P moiety without change in configuration. The fatty acid is replaced by a long chain fatty alcohol which retains the oxygen of the primary carbinol. In the absence of fatty alcohol, water substitutes and the product is dihydroxyacetone-P which has also exchanged the pro-R hydrogen with a hydrogen from the medium. An absolute requirement of the proposed mechanism is that the loss of the fatty acid must proceed via an unusual cleavage of the dihydroxyacetone-P C-1 to oxygen bond instead of the usual cleavage at the fatty acid acyl to oxygen bond. In the present investigation, we have synthesized hexadecanoyl dihydroxyacetone-P containing oxygen-18 exclusively at the dihydroxyacetone-P C-1 oxygen. Using this substrate, we have shown that cleavage of hexadecanoyl dihydroxyacetone-P at the C-1 to oxygen bond is linked to O-alkyl dihydroxyacetone-P synthesis. Inhibition of O-alkyl lipid synthesis by means of magnesium or NADPH inhibited the unusual cleavage. At the same time, we have shown that there was hydrolysis of acyl dihydroxyacetone-P which proceeded by the usual mechanism and which was not related to synthesis of O-alkyl dihydroxyacetone-P.

Animals↗

PubMed1981

[Antimicrobial activity of chlorine-substituted 4-alkyl- and arylphenols].

The results of the study on the antimicrobial activity of 12 chlorine-substituted 4-alkyl- and arylphenols against Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, E. coli, Salmonella typhosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella dysenteriae, Proteus, Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis, Candida, Trichophyton gypseum and Microsporum lanosum are presented. It was found that introduction of the alkyl substitute to position 4 of orthochlorphenol increased the activity of the substances against the majority of test microbes. The antimicrobial effect of the substances depended on the length and structure of the alkyl radical. With an increase in the number of the carbon atoms in the alkyl radical from 3 to 7 and in the presence of the cyclic radical C5 - C6 the antimicrobial activity of the substances increased.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1994

Sequence dependence of paclitaxel (Taxol) combined with cisplatin or alkylators in human cancer cells.

Clinical trials combining paclitaxel with other active chemotherapy agents are currently underway. In vitro preclinical studies may assist in the selection of appropriate drug combinations or sequences for clinical investigation. We have used clonogenic cell survival assays and DNA flow cytometry to examine the effect of paclitaxel combined with melphalan, thiotepa, or cisplatin on the survival and cell-cycle parameters of human lung A549 and breast MCF-7 adenocarcinoma cells. A549 and MCF-7 cells were incubated with paclitaxel for 24 h, followed by a 1 h exposure to cisplatin, melphalan, or thiotepa. Both cell types were also incubated with cisplatin or an alkylator for 1 h followed by a 24 h paclitaxel exposure. When the paclitaxel exposure preceded either melphalan, thiotepa, or cisplatin, the cytotoxicity was additive for both cell lines tested. When cisplatin or alkylator exposure was given prior to the paclitaxel, cytotoxicity was also additive in MCF-7 cells. However, cisplatin or alkylators were antagonistic to paclitaxel cytotoxicity when they preceded the paclitaxel exposure in A549 cells (e.g., 2% survival with 100 nM paclitaxel vs. 7% survival with cisplatin and paclitaxel). Cell-cycle analysis revealed that exposure to 100 nM paclitaxel for 24 h blocked a majority of the cells into the G2/M phase (> or = 80% for A549 cells, 60-65% for MCF-7 cells). However, exposure to alkylators before incubation in paclitaxel reduced the proportion of A549 but not MCF-7 cells in G2/M--e.g., exposure to 30 micrograms/ml cisplatin prior to paclitaxel exposure caused only 25% of A549 and 55% of MCF-7 cells to block in G2/M.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1996

Molecular mechanism for alkyl sulfide-modulated carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity: the role of cytochrome P450 2E1, P450 2B and glutathione S-transferase expression.

The modulation of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in response to alkyl sulfides and alkyl ethers including allyl disulfide (ADS), allyl sulfide (AS), allyl ether (AE), propyl disulfide (PDS), propyl sulfide (PS), propyl ether (PE) and butyl sulfide (BS) was studied. Whereas pretreatment of rats with either ADS or AS (50 mg/kg, 7 days) blocked a CCl4-induced increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity by 91 and 56%, respectively, AE, PDS, PS, PE or BS treatment enhanced CCl4-induced ALT activity by 52, 55, 238, 25 or 86%, respectively. Histochemical examinations supported the results of plasma ALT activity. Injection of GdCl3 to PS-pretreated rats failed to block the potentiated ALT increase, whereas GdCl3 completely prevented vitamin A-enhanced elevation of ALT activity. AS treatment completely blocked PS-potentiated CCl4 intoxication. Concomitant treatment of animals with both PS and vitamin A followed by a CCl4 insult resulted in super-potentiation of CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, suggesting that the mechanism of PS-enhanced hepatotoxicity differs from that caused by vitamin A. Pyridine or phenobarbital potentiation of CCl4-induced increases in ALT activity implys that cytochrome P450 2E1 (P450 2E1) and P450 2B expression may be associated with the increased toxicity. P450 2E1 expression appeared to be associated with the alkyl sulfide-modulated hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by both immunoblot analyses and metabolic activity. P450 2B immunoblot analysis revealed that either AS or PS substantially induced hepatic P450 2B1/2 levels. Thus, PS-enhanced CCL4 hepatotoxicity may be related in part with P450 2B induction. ADS, AS or PS treatment caused increases in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) conjugating activity toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene. ADS, AS or PS induced Ya and Yb1 subunits by 2- to 3-fold. ADS or AS treatment also significantly elevated the levels of Yc subunits. PS failed to induce Yc expression, although this agent effectively increased Yb2 expression. Northern blot analyses revealed that ADS and AS concomitantly stimulated GST Ya, Yb1 and Yc2 gene expression, whereas PS increased the levels of Ya, Yb1, and Yb2 mRNA, but not Yc2 mRNA levels. The expression of GST subunit Yc2 in response to these compounds might be associated with hepatoprotective effects. These results demonstrate that ADS and AS have distinct capability of blocking CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, whereas certain saturated alkyl sulfides rather potentiate CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and that the underlying mechanism is associated with P450 2E1 and P450 2B expression, and possibly with certain GST expression.

Allyl Compounds↗

PubMed1977

[Study of 1,5-benzodiazepines. II. Synthesis of 2,4-di-(N-alkyl,N-phenyl)amino-3H-1,5-benzodiazepine].

Following the procedure we described for synthesizing analogous compounds in Note I (7), reaction of N,N-dialkyl or (N-alkyl,N-phenyl)ethoxycarbonylacetamides with 4-chloro-1,2-phenylendiamine, in the presence of phosphorus oxychloride, afforded 2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-4-dialkyl (N-alkyl,N-phenyl)amino-chloro-1H-1,5-benzodiazepines. When a large amount of phosphorus oxychloride was employed in the reaction, the formation of 2,4-di-(N-alkyl,N-phenyl)amino-3H-1,5-benzodiazepines was achieved, starting from suitable o-phenylendiamines and (N-alkyl,N-phenyl)ethoxycarbonylacetamides. Pharmacological tests were carried out on some compounds described in the present paper and on others reported in the preceding Note (7); in this connection 4-amino-1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives showed weak CNS depressing activity in addition, in some cases, to clear, although moderate, anticonvulsant activity, whereas 2,4-diamino-1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives were practically without effect.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 1-[2-(chloroethyl)-3-(2-substituted-10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)alkyl- 1-urea s as potent anticancer agents.

10-[N-(Phthalimido)alkyl]-2-substituted-10H-phenothiazines and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(2-substituted-10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)alkyl-1- ureas were synthesized and found to have antiproliferative effects on human HEp-2 and L5178Y cell cultures. The multi-drug resistant subline of mouse lymphoma was sensitive to the reversal effects of some 10-[N-(phthalimido)alkyl]-2-substituted-10H-phenothiazines, while 1-(2-chloro-ethyl)-3-(2-substituted-10H-phenothiazin-10-yl)alkyl-1 -ureas were less effective but had a similar degree of antiproliferative effect on both cell lines.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

A new deuterated alkylating agent for quantitative proteomics.

Weakly basic molecules containing a double bond, such as 2- and 4-vinylpyridine, are able to react and selectively alkylate -SH groups in proteins, thus preventing their re-oxidation to disulphide bridges. In contrast to conventional alkylating agents such as iodoacetamide and non-charged acrylamide derivatives, such molecules achieve 100% alkylation of all -SH residues, even in complex proteins, without reacting with other functional groups. Their use is particularly effective in proteome analysis and more generally for analyzing proteins in which the -SH groups should be blocked. Additionally, the use of vinylpyridines, partially or totally deuterated and thus with a mass difference compared with their non-deuterated counterparts of 4-7 Da, allows studies of induction/repression of protein synthesis (quantitative proteomics).

Alkylating Agents↗

PubMed1993

Identification of cysteine residues alkylated with 3-bromopropylamine by protein sequence analysis.

A new reagent for the routine identification of cysteine residues during protein sequencing is described. This method employs 3-bromopropylamine to alkylate cysteines in proteins after reduction with dithiothreitol. Upon sequencing of the protein on an Applied Biosystems 477A protein sequencer, the aminopropylcysteine residue yields a phenylthiohydantoin (PTH) derivative which elutes reproducibly at a unique position immediately after PTH-leucine; baseline resolution is achieved without modification of the PTH analyzer gradient. Unlike PTH-pyridylethylcysteine, the relative elution position of the aminopropylcysteine PTH derivative is not affected by changes in the ionic strength of the analyzer solvents. In addition, the previewing of the next amino acid which is observed in proteins modified with 4-vinylpyridine does not occur in aminopropylated proteins. Preparation of alkylated proteins for electroblotting onto polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes and methods for desalting alkylated proteins immobilized on precoated glass fiber filters or PVDF membranes are also described.

Alkylating Agents↗

PubMed1989

The dependence of the mutagenicity of methanesulphonic acid esters in S. typhimurium TA100 on the alkylation mechanism.

Four different model nucleophiles, 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP), N-methylmercaptoimidazole (MMI), trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and H2O were tested with 22 methanesulphonates of widely varying structures for their suitability to predict mutagenic activities in S. typhimurium TA100. The soft nucleophiles NBP (N-alkylation) and MMI (S-alkylation) revealed as highly sensitive for SN2 reactivities whereas TFA (solvolysis at the O-atom) and H2O (hydrolysis) were very sensitive for SN1 reactivities. No correlation between the NBP or the MMI test and the Ames test was found. Quite good correlations could be demonstrated for the TFA test and the hydrolysis rates: with rising activities in the TFA solvolysis the mutagenic potencies were increasing up to a maximum at i-propyl methanesulphonate. After that due to the fast hydrolysis the mutagenicities were decreasing again despite increasing TFA solvolysis rates. In general the secondary methanesulphonates exerted high SN1 reactivities and distinct mutagenic activities, whereas the primary compounds showed no or very low SN1 reactivities and low mutagenic potentials. The "activated" compounds cyclopropylmethyl methanesulphonate, benzyl methanesulphonate and allyl methanesulphonate exerted high SN1 and SN2 reactivities. Methyl methanesulphonate displayed a high mutagenicity in spite of its lack in SN1 reactivity. This is probably due to the induction of the error prone repair (pkM 101 plasmid in TA100). The relation between the alkylating reactivities (SN1 and SN2) and the molecular mechanisms leading to back mutation is discussed.

Alkylating Agents↗

PubMed1994

International Commission for Protection Against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens. The subtlety of alkylating agents in reactions with biological macromolecules.

Genotoxic agents known to modify DNA by alkylation reactions (alkylating agents, AAs), either directly or after metabolic conversion to ultimately reactive intermediates, by no means represent a homogeneous class. For instance, their effectiveness for genotoxic damage, when expressed as the number of events (e.g., mutations) per unit exposure dose, varies over a more than 1-million-fold range in dose. Despite the multiplicity of chemical and biological processes involved between DNA adduct formation and expression of genotoxic damage, the principal aims of studies on structure-activity relationships (SARs) are to (a) dissect the multi-step process of genetic damage formation into its most essential components, (b) use SARs for making predictions and, at a later step (c) as a basis for regulatory measures. The analytical tools available for such a comprehensive analysis in eukaryotic systems include determination of multiple genetic endpoints: molecular mutation spectra, relative clastogenicity (clastogenic events in relation to forward mutation induction) and the quantitative measure of enhanced mutagenicity in repair-deficient conditions. The genetic activity profiles obtained in this way can then be compared with fundamental physico-chemical properties of the AAs under consideration (such as Swain-Scott's s value, a useful indicator of the selectivity of an AA in its reactions with nucleophiles of distinct nucleophilic strength n in DNA, RNA and proteins), their functionality (monofunctional versus cross-linking) and their tumorigenic potency (TD50s compared with measures of initial DNA interaction, i.e., O6-/N7-alkylguanine ratios, s values or the covalent binding index determined in the liver in vivo). The combination of these different methods revealed that carcinogenic potencies of AAs in rodents vary over a 10,000-fold range in dose, with the extremes having the following characteristics: (i) Chemicals of a relatively "high carcinogenic potency", as indicated by a low TD50 in rodents, either have low nucleophilic selectivity (and therefore mainly act through O-alkylation in DNA) or are capable of cross-linking DNA. The monofunctional members of this group, typified by N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea, are active in both spermatogonia and post-spermatogonial stages in the mouse and in Drosophila. Cross-linking agents also have a low TD50 value in rodents but are expected generally not to display genetic action in premeiotic stages (exceptions mitomycin C and chlorambucil). (ii) A relatively low carcinogenic potential is associated with AAs of high Swain-Scott s values, typified by trimethyl phosphate, epichlorohydrin or methyl methanesulphonate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alkylating Agents↗

PubMed1995

Repair of base alkylation damage in targeted restriction endonuclease sequences of plasmid DNA.

Sequence specific ethylation damage and repair of ethyl-adducts in selected restriction endonuclease recognition sites within p220-ras plasmid DNA was assessed by a modified Southern blotting coupled immunoprobing technique. In situ UV irradiation of DNA in gels clearly ameliorated the immunodetection of minute amounts of facultative fragments generated due to inhibition of enzyme cleavage site by covalent alkylation modification of the cognate sites. Specific and quantitative localization of induced facultative fragments was achieved in as low as 1 ng of DNA digest corresponding to a peak intensity below 0.1 absorbance unit upon laser scanning. An ENU dose dependent increase in the intensity of representative 7.1 and 7.7 kb facultative fragments was observed as a result of cleavage block at EcoRI (G/ATTC) and BamHI (G/GATCC) restriction endonuclease sites, respectively. To determine the repair in prokaryotic cells, the half-life of repairable alkyl-adducts was assessed in plasmid DNA established in various Escherichia coli strains as a function of post-treatment incubation time in the recovery medium. The repair is indicated by the gradual disappearance of the 7.1, 7.7, 11.9 and 5.5 kb facultative fragments within the wild-type and mutant E. coli strains. The ethyl-adducts within EcoRI and BamHI restriction sites were effectively lost from the target DNA in repair-proficient E. coli with an estimated t1/2 of approximately 40 min. However, decreased overall rate and at least 2.2-times lesser extent of repair was observed in the repair-deficient (ada+ogt-) and (ada-ogt+) cells. No measurable repair was noticed in alkyltransferase defective double mutant (ada-ogt-) even after 2 h of post-treatment incubation. The repair of ethyl-adducts at NotI site (GC/GGCCGC) in 5.5 kb facultative fragment occurred at a relatively faster rate (t1/2 of 27 min) in wild-type bacteria. A 1.5-fold slower repair of ethyl-adducts in BamHI and EcoRI sequences containing G/G and A/G at their cleavage sites was observed compared to C/G in NotI sequence. These results demonstrate the regioselective induction of alkyl-adducts in ethylated DNA and their differential repair in E. coli due to varied efficiency of the repair enzymes for promutagenic DNA base lesions present in different sequence context.

Alkylating Agents↗