title: DNA binding and its relationship to carcinogenesis by different polycyclic hydrocarbons.
abstract: Five different polycyclic hydrocarbons with different degrees of carcinogenicity in vivo were tested for their metabolism to water-soluble products and their binding to DNA, RNA, and protein in normal embryonic hamster and BHK cells. The compounds studied were 7, 12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, 20-methyl-cholanthrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene and dibenz(a,c)anthracene. All five compounds were metabolized to water-soluble produces in both types of cells and treatment of cells with aminophylline enhanced this metabolism. After and not before this enhancement of metabolism by aminophylline, there was a relationship between the degree of carcinogenicity and binding to DNA. There was no such relationship with binding to RNA or protein. The results, indicating a relationship between the degree of carcinogenicity and binding to DNA under appropriate conditions of metabolism, support the suggestion that DNA is the target for carcinogenesis by such carcinogens.
mesh_terms: D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes / Q000378:metabolism; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000378:metabolism; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000378:metabolism; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes; D001580:Benzopyrenes; D002273:Carcinogens; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D011506:Proteins; D000628:Aminophylline; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA