Methyl-substitution of benzene and toluene in preparations of human bone marrow.
The metabolism of benzene and toluene was investigated in preparations of human bone marrow incubated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Benzene undergoes a methyl-substitution reaction to yield toluene as a metabolite. Furthermore, toluene undergoes methyl-substitution in preparations of human bone marrow incubated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine to yield o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene. Metabolites were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. No metabolism of either benzene or toluene was detected when a boiled bone marrow preparation was used in the incubation, demonstrating the enzymatic nature of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine dependent methylation of both benzene and toluene.
Flesher
J W
JW
Department of Pharmacology, A. B. Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536.
Myers
S R
SR
D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008745:Methylation; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism
D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene