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Cell killing by various monofunctional alkylating agents in Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Cell killing by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) was measured in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells using the colony-formation assay. Cell killing by these agents was determined in exponentially growing asynchronous cells, in synchronous cells as a function of cell-cycle position and in nondividing cells. Distinct differences in the cytotoxic effect of the 4 alkylating agents were found in respect to dose-response, cell cycle phase-sensitivity and growth state. MNNG and MNU showed the same biphasic dose-survival relationship in exponentially growing cells, with an initial steep decline followed by a shallow component. The shallow component disappeared in growth-arrested cells. MNNG and MNU differed, however, in the cell-cycle age response. No cell-cycle phase difference was seen with MNNG, whereas cells in G1 seemed more sensitive to MNU than cells in S phase. MMS and ENU both showed shouldered dose-response curves for exponentially growing asynchronous cells, and the same cell-cycle pattern for synchronous cultures with cells in early S phase being the most sensitive. However, survival of nondividing cells versus dividing cells was reduced much more by MMS than by ENU. Caffeine, which interferes with the regulation of DNA synthesis and is known to modify cell killing by DNA-damaging agents, enhanced cell killing by all agents. It is concluded that there must be a number of factors which contribute to cell killing by monofunctional alkylating agents, and that besides alkylation of DNA reaction with other cellular macromolecules should be considered.

Alkylating Agents↗

Formation and persistence of DNA adducts in pouch skin fibroblasts and liver tissue of rats exposed in vivo to the monofunctional alkylating agents N-methyl-N-nitrosourea or N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea.

Base substitutions and frameshifts induced by genotoxic agents are considered to result mainly from incomplete repair and incorrect replication of modified nucleotides in DNA. In this study, induction and persistence of O6-alkyl- and 7-alkylguanine adducts were determined by reverse phase HPLC and electrochemical detection in DNA of pouch skin fibroblasts and liver tissue of rats exposed in vivo to the monofunctional alkylating agents N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Although an exposure dependent increase in the level of adducts was found for both chemicals, a much lower frequency of both O6-alkylguanine and 7-alkylguanine was detected after ENU treatment than after MNU treatment, indicating that MNU is much more reactive with DNA than ENU. The persistence of O6-alkyl- and 7-alkylguanine was studied for up to 48 h at exposure levels of 60 mg/kg for MNU and 100 mg/kg for ENU. A time-dependent decline in the levels of both adducts was observed, but w6-alkylguanine was more rapidly lost than 7-alkylguanine in both pouch skin fibroblasts and liver. Furthermore, DNA adducts were faster lost from liver than from pouch skin fibroblasts. The loss of O6-alkylguanine adducts is probably mediated by the action of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) in the target tissues since AGT activity was detectable in protein extracts of pouch skin fibroblasts and liver from unexposed rats and from exposed rats, 48 h but not 1 h after MNU and ENU treatment. AGT activity recovered faster in liver tissue than in pouch skin fibroblasts, and after ENU exposure an induction of AGT activity was observed in the liver but not in pouch skin fibroblasts. The difference in the level of O6-alkylguanine in DNA of pouch skin fibroblasts introduced upon exposure to MNU and ENU may explain the molecular nature of most base pair changes observed previously in spectra of hprt mutants induced in these cells in vivo. The frequency of O6-methylguanine upon MNU exposure remains relatively high with time and these adducts most likely cause GC to AT transitions. In the case of ENU, O6-ethylguanine was detected at very low frequencies resulting in a low contribution of GC to AT transitions. Rather, the ENU spectrum is dominated by base pair changes at AT base pairs.

Alkylating Agents↗

The hydrolysis and alkylation activities of S-(2-haloethyl)-L-cysteine analogs--evidence for extended half-life.

A series of S-(2-haloethyl)-L-cysteine derivatives, which are analogs of the proposed glutathione half-mustard metabolites of dihaloethanes, were synthesized and studied with respect to their hydrolysis and alkylation rates in aqueous solution. The trend of relative hydrolysis rates, Br greater than Cl much greater than F, paralleled their respective leaving group abilities; however, a dramatic rate increase was seen at pH 8 versus pH's 6 or 4. Hydrolysis of S-(2-chloroethyl)-L-cysteine analogs, where the ionizable groups were blocked (carboxyl esterified and/or N-acetylated), revealed that the amine moiety was responsible for the increased hydrolysis of mustard gas (beta, beta'-dichlorodiethyl sulfide) gave similar results with S-(2-chloroethyl)-L-cysteine, a finding which is consistent with the reaction intermediate being a highly charged species. The alkylation rates with 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)-pyridine were not affected by blocking the ionizable groups. A mechanism of internal cyclization is proposed to explain the accelerated alkaline hydrolysis rates noted with S-(2-haloethyl)-L-cysteines but not with the N-acetylated analogs (mercapturic acids). This scheme proposes the formation of 3-(thiomorpholine)-carboxylic acid as an alternative pathway to the generally accepted hydrolysis reaction. This compound and not S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine was the identified product following pH 10 hydrolysis. Increased hydrolysis half-time of amine-blocked cysteine analogs versus parent cysteine analogs may exist with S-(2-haloethyl)-glutathione derivatives which may explain the substantial nucleic acid alkylation seen with S-(2-haloethyl) derivatives of glutathione.

Alkylation↗

The use of proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) for monitoring the reaction of epoxides with butylamine and predictive capabilities of the relative alkylation index (RAI) for skin sensitization by epoxides.

A group of alkyl epoxides was compared for their guinea pig sensitization capacity and reactivities towards a protein-surrogate substrate, n-butylamine. Instead of the previously reported use of a titration method for determination of alkylation rate, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (1H NMR) was used. The resulting relative alkylation indices (RAIs) were calculated in order to correlate these indices with the results of the guinea pig sensitization test data. The use of 1H NMR was determined to be a useful tool for collection of in vitro reaction rates, but there was no correlation between the RAIs and guinea pig sensitization score for this group of epoxides.

Alkylation↗

Role of glutathione in cellular resistance to alkylating agents.

Both elevated glutathione levels and increased activity of the enzyme glutathione S-transferase have been associated with the resistance of cells to alkylating agents. We have demonstrated that one mechanism of this resistance is the inactivation of the alkylating agents by conjugation with glutathione. This conjugation can be catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. For the nitrogen mustard agents we have studied, both the spontaneous and enzyme catalyzed reactions proceed through the aziridinium intermediates of the alkylating agents, and the alpha isoenzymes of GST are involved. In a study of cyclophosphamide resistant medulloblastoma cell lines elevated cellular concentrations of glutathione correlated well with the resistance of the cell lines.

Alkylating Agents↗

Sister-chromatid exchanges and cytotoxicity in cultured Indian muntjac cells treated with alkylating agents.

6 monofunctional alkylating mutagens/carcinogens -- 4 N-nitroso and 2 methanesulfonate compounds -- differed in their efficiency for inducing sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) when normalized on cytotoxicity. SCE induction occurred only at highly cytotoxic doses. Ethylating agents were, on a molar basis, generally less potent inducers of SCEs, and they were also less cytotoxic than the corresponding methylating agents. The observed differential action spectrum of the 6 alkylating agents is discussed in the light of recent ideas on the interaction between alkylating mutagens with DNA and the role of specific DNA lesions in the formation of SCEs.

Alkylating Agents↗

Mutagenic and alkylating activities of organophosphate impurities of commercial malathion.

The purpose of this study was to determine if 4 major organophosphate impurities of malathion were active as alkylators of nitrobenzylpyridine (NBP) or as mutagens in the Salmonella typhimurium bioassay. Malathion, isomalathion, O,O,O-trimethyl phosphorothioate, O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate, and O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate produced alkylated NBP at varying rates. In order of increasing NBP reactivity, the compounds ranked: O,O,O-trimethyl phosphorothioate = O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate less than O,S,S-trimethyl phosphorodithioate less than isomalathion = malathion. At 37 degrees C, the most reactive compounds produced an NBP alkylation rate equal to approximately 25% of the rate produced by methyl methanesulfonate, a potent Salmonella mutagen. However, none of the organophosphates were mutagenic in S. typhimurium TA97, TA98 and TA100 when tested by the standard plate-incorporation method or by the preincubation modification of the plate-incorporation method. The possible relationships between NBP reactivity and the biological activities of these organophosphates are discussed.

Alkylating Agents↗

A novel mutant of mouse lymphoma cells sensitive to alkylating agents and caffeine.

Two-methyl-methanesulfonate-sensitive strains have been isolated, one of which, M10, was cross-sensitive to X-rays as reported before. Sensitivities of parental L5178Y, M10, and newly isolated MS-1 cells to various mutagens were examined. Mutagens tested were UV, X-rays, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO), caffeine and alkylating agents; methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) and mitomycin C (MMC). In terms of D37 values, M10 cells were 2.5-7 times more sensitive to EMS, MMC and 4NQO as well as to MMS and X-rays than were parental L5178Y cells, while the new mutant MS-1 was about 3 times more sensitive to MMS, EMS, MMC and caffeine than were parental cells. The characteristics in sensitivities of M10 cells to X-rays, alkylating agents and 4NQO resemble resemble some ataxia telangiectasia cells; and MS-1 cells to alkylating agents and caffeine are novel among mammalian cell mutants so far reported. Sensitivity of M10 cells to mutagens has so far been stable for one year, and that of MS-1 cells was stable for 6 months in continuous culture.

Alkylating Agents↗

The alkaline hydrolysis of phosphotriesters in alkylated mammalian DNA.

Isolated DNA was alkylated with N-[14C]methyl-N-nitrosourea or N-[14C]ethyl-N-nitrosourea. Sedimentation analysis of the alkylated DNA before and after alkaline hydrolysis was used to determine the number of single-strand breaks introduced by hydrolysis of the triesters. Vacuum distillation from alkylated DNA solutions before and after alkaline hydrolysis was used to determine the numbers of triesters hydrolysing to the alcohol.

Alkylation↗

Partial characterization of the inactive mutant form of human red cell bisphosphoglyceromutase and comparison with an alkylated form.

The trifunctional enzyme bisphosphoglyceromutase (or diphosphoglycerate mutase) (EC 2.7.5.4) was purified from human red cells and injected into two chickens. Specific anti-bisphosphoglyceromutase antibodies were produced that displayed a single precipitation line on Ouchterlony plates and on immunoelectrophoresis. No cross-reaction of these antibodies was detected with phosphoglyceromutase, the common glycolytic enzyme. Immunoneutralization of bisphosphoglyceromutase and of its two other activities, i.e., bisphosphoglycerate phosphatase and phosphoglyceromutase, was observed for a purified preparation. The anti-bisphosphoglyceromutase antibody reacts with the inactive enzyme present in the hemolysate of a mutant human subject. It also binds bisphosphoglyceromutase inactivated by N-ethylmaleimide, a strong alkylating agent of SH groups. Active bisphosphoglyceromutase is stable at 55 degrees C, whereas the inactive forms of the mutant and of the alkylated hemolysates are thermolabile. These forms can be protected against thermal precipitation by 4 mM 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and 4 mM 3-phosphoglycerate. These findings afford evidence that the binding of the substrates on the bisphosphoglyceromutase molecule is not prevented by alkylation nor by the mutation of the hereditary inactive enzyme.

Alkylation↗

The effects of the anilinonaphthalenesulfonates on the alkylation of tubulin: correlation between the appearance of sulfhydryl groups and apolar binding sites.

We have previously found that the sulfhydryl groups of tubulin are sensitive reporters of the effects of ligands on the tubulin molecule. In this study, we examined the effects of three anilinonaphthalenesulfonates on the interaction of tubulin with iodo[14C]acetamide and N, N'-ethylenebis(iodoacetamide). We found that 1,8-anilinonapthalensulfonate (1,8-ANS) and 2,6-anilinonaphthalenesulfonate (2,6-ANS) had no effect on the reaction with iodo[14C]acetamide. In contrast, bis(1,8-anilinonaphthalenesulfonate) (BisANS), an inhibitor of microtubule assembly, had a complex effect. Low concentrations of BisANS, where presumably only the high-affinity binding site was saturated, had little or no effect on alkylation. Higher concentrations of BisANS caused a strong enhancement of alkylation. None of these compounds had any effect on the reaction with N,N-ethylenebis(iodoacetamide). Our results suggest that the binding of BisANS, 2,6-ANS and 1,8-ANS to tubulin is complex and very different from that of the other anti-tubulin drugs. The correlation between the effects of drugs on alkylation of tubulin and the binding of BisANS is consistent with a model whereby the alkylatable sulfhydryls are located in apolar regions of the tubulin molecule.

Alkylation↗

Induction of SOS and adaptive responses by alkylating agents in Escherichia coli mutants deficient in 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase activities.

The induction of SOS and adaptive responses by alkylating agents was studied in Escherichia coli mutants tagA and alkA deficient in 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase activities. The SOS response was measured using an sfiA::lacZ operon fusion. The sfiA operon, in the double mutant tagA alkA, is induced at 5-50-fold lower concentrations of all tested methylating and ethylating compounds, as compared to the wild-type strain. In all cases, the tagA mutation, which inactivates the constitutive and specific 3-alkyladenine-DNA glycosylase I (TagI), sensitizes the strain to the SOS response. The sensitization effect of alkA mutation, which inactivates the inducible 3-alkyladenine-DNA glycosylase II (TagII), is observed under conditions which allow the induction of the adaptive response. We conclude that the persistence of 3-methyladenine and 3-ethyladenine residues in DNA most likely leads to the induction of the SOS functions. In contrast, the adaptive response, evaluated by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity in cell extracts, was not affected by either tagA or alkA mutations. The results suggest that the SOS and adaptive responses use different alkylation products as an inducing "signal". However, adaptation protein TagII inhibits the induction of the SOS response to some extent, due to its action at the level of signal production. Finally, we provide conditions to improve short-term bacterial tests for the detection of genotoxic alkylating agents.

Adaptation, Biological↗

Pharmacokinetics of alkylating metabolites of cyclophosphamide in different strains of mice.

Determination of the amount of alkylating (NBP) metabolites of cyclophosphamide (CP) in blood serum of BALB/c and DBA/2 mice has revealed that the shape of the curve describing the accumulation of NBP-metabolites, depends on the administered drug dose and animals' genotype. The experimental data obtained made it possible to suggest an improved pharmacokinetic model which takes into account a possible switching in of factors conditioning non-linear changes in the intensity of the accumulation processes in blood and elimination of CP alkylating metabolites from blood. The effect of different CP alkylating metabolite kinetics in BALB/c and DBA/2 mice on a different sensitivity of these mice to the immunodepressive action of CP in vivo, has been discussed.

Alkylating Agents↗

A sensitive assay for the pharmacokinetic investigation of a rapidly hydrolyzing alkylating agent Lycurim (ritrosulfan; R-74; NSC-122 402).

Lycurim [1,4-di(2'-methanesulfonyloxyethylamino)-1,4-dideoxymesoerythri tol dimethane sulfonate] is rapidly hydrolyzed in aqueous media to inactive products according to a second-order reaction. The respective rate constants are: k1 = 9.82 X 10(-2) and k2 = 1.76 X 10(-2) mumol/ml/min. The concentrations of the parent compound and alkylating intermediate(s) were measured by chemical trapping with N,N-diethyldithiocarbamic acid (DDTC). The rate of this reaction is substantially higher: k1 = 2.61 X 10(-1) and K2 = 4.76 X 10(-2) mumol/ml/min. By using 35S-labeled DDTC, alkylating compounds in concentrations as low as 0.04 microgram/ml could be detected in spiked plasma samples. After intracavitary application of 60 mg Lycurim no alkylating activity could be demonstrated in the plasma of patients at any time point.

Alkylating Agents↗

Cholecystokinin inhibits DNA alkylation induced by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in hamster pancreas.

Cholecystokinin (CCK) inhibits pancreatic cancer but not hepatic tumor induction by N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) in hamsters when administered with or shortly before BOP. In this study, we evaluated the capability of sulfated CCK-8 to inhibit DNA alkylation in the hamster pancreas. We examined the pattern of O6-methylguanine (G6-Me) and N7-methylguanine (G7-Me) in pancreatic ductal, acinar and liver tissues from Syrian hamsters treated with a single dose of BOP (20 mg/kg s.c.) and with five s.c. injections of CCK-8 (200 pM/kg, 30 min apart). The first CCK injection was given either 90 min before, or together, or 3 h after POP administration. The amount of G6-Me in liver DNA did not differ significantly. We observed a decrease of G7-Me in the liver of the group treated with CCK together with POP as compared to POP alone (P less than 0.005). Lower amounts of G6-Me were found in ductal preparations (P less than 0.01) of the animals treated with CCK before POP as compared to POP alone. CCK also modified the pattern of alkylation in the acinar tissue, but without a clear relationship with the timing of administration. The results suggest that the inhibitory effect of CCK-8 on pancreatic carcinogenicity of BOP could be related to its capability to modify DNA alkylation by yet unknown mechanisms.

Alkylation↗

Alterations in repair of alkylating agent-induced DNA damage in polyamine-depleted human cells.

Treatment of HeLa cells with the polyamine biosynthesis inhibitors difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and/or methylglyoxal bis(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG) results in marked depression in levels of the cellular polyamines putrescine, spermidine and spermine. Cells in this polyamine-depleted state exhibited increased sensitivity to monofunctional alkylating agents, manifested as decreased cloning ability and retardation of the DNA excision repair process. DFMO treatment did not alter the initial level of interaction of radiolabeled alkylating agent with cellular DNA, but combined treatment with DFMO and MGBG reduced covalent binding, probably through effects on cell cycling. Polyamine supplementation had no effects on initial yield of DNA single-strand breaks in drug-treated cells. The repair defect appeared similar to that observed previously in polyamine-depleted cells following X-irradiation and UV irradiation, namely retarded sealing of DNA strand breaks. It was not possible to reverse the effects of these inhibitors by short periods of polyamine loading, despite the fact that all three polyamines could be restored to near-normal levels. These findings provide the first demonstration of altered response of polyamine-depleted cells to monofunctional alkylating agents and contribute to our understanding of altered responses of polyamine-depleted cancer cells to a variety of DNA-reactive chemotherapeutic drugs.

Alkylating Agents↗

Localization of the menaquinone-0 alkylating enzyme in the smooth reticulum of chicken liver microsomes.

The alkylation of menaquinone-0 to menaquinones occurs in the microsomal fraction of chick and rat liver. Subfractionation of chick microsomes into smooth and rough reticulum was achieved by density gradient centrifugation. The alkylation enzyme was localized in the smooth reticulum with an activity of 155 pmol/mg per h, about 50-fold greater than that in the rough reticulum. The membrane-bound alkylating enzyme system requires reduced menaquinone-0 and is phospholipid-dependent.

Alkyl and Aryl Transferases↗

Sequence-specific chemical modification of double-stranded DNA with alkylating oligodeoxyribonucleotide derivatives.

Chemical modification of double-stranded (ds) DNA with alkylating oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo) derivatives, 5'-p(N-2-chloroethyl-N-methylamino) benzylamides of oligos, has been investigated. In contrast to relaxed plasmid DNAs, the superhelical molecules interact with the oligo derivatives and specific alkylation of the DNAs occurs at the regions complementary to the oligo reagents. Alkylating derivatives of oligocytidylates and pT(pCpT)6 react with corresponding homopyrimidine-homopurine tracts within ds DNA fragments due to triple helix formation.

Alkylation↗