title: Hepatic microsomal N-hydroxylation of adenine to 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine.
abstract: The enzymatic N-hydroxylation of the purine base adenine to the genotoxic and mutagenic compound 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine is reported for the first time. Adenine was N-oxygenated in vitro by aerobic incubations with 3-methylcholanthrene or isosafrole induced microsomal fractions of rat liver homogenates and NADPH. The formation of 6-N-hydroxylaminopurine in the incubation mixtures under widely differing conditions was assayed using newly-developed, high-performance liquid- and thin-layer chromatographic methods. Optimal reaction conditions and kinetic parameters were determined. Neither superoxide anion nor hydrogen peroxide was directly involved in the N-hydroxylation reaction. Oxidases like xanthine oxidase and peroxidase (in the presence of hydrogen peroxide) did not catalyse this N-hydroxylation. The involvement of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes in this reaction is supported by the observation that the N-hydroxylation is only observed after pretreatment of the rats with 3-methylcholanthrene or isosafrole. Other inducers (phenobarbital, ethanol, 5-pregnen-3 beta ol-20-one-16 alpha-carbonitrile) were without effect. This is the first example of the microsomal transformation of an endogenous substance to a toxic derivative by usually foreign substances (xenobiotics) metabolizing cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. The significance for the in vivo situation is discussed on the basis of the data obtained in this study.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Philipps-Universität, Marburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Clement
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunze
mesh_terms: D000225:Adenine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D005260:Female; D006900:Hydroxylation; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000494:pharmacology; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012451:Safrole / Q000494:pharmacology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008748:Methylcholanthrene; C032610:6-N-hydroxylaminopurine; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000225:Adenine; D012451:Safrole; C015959:isosafrole