title: Methylation of thymine and uracil with free methyl cations formed due to beta-decay of tritiated methane: possible implication in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.
abstract: Exposure of solid thymine and uracil at room temperature to free methyl cations, produced due to beta-decay of tritiated methane, resulted in formation of their 1-, O2-, 3-, O4-, and 6-methyl derivatives. In addition, uracil formed a 5-methyl derivative (thymine); tritium-containing thymine and uracil were also detected. Both thymine and uracil formed predominantly unidentified products which resulted presumably from their oligomerization. Incubation at -195 degrees C did not markedly change the pattern of reaction products. Aqueous-ammonia solutions of these pyrimidines formed methylated derivatives and considerable amounts of methanol and tritiated water. The possible implication of these reactions in mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of tritium-substituted hydrocarbons is discussed.
authors.affiliation: N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, Leningrad, USSR.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Korsakov
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bystrova
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mironiuk
authors.forename: E N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Sinotova
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Ivin
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Nefedov
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Likhachev
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D002412:Cations; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods; D008697:Methane; D008745:Methylation; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009153:Mutagens; D013941:Thymine; D014316:Tritium; D014498:Uracil
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D002412:Cations; D009153:Mutagens; D014316:Tritium; D014498:Uracil; D008697:Methane; D013941:Thymine