Methylation of thymine and uracil with free methyl cations formed due to beta-decay of tritiated methane: possible implication in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.
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.
Korsakov
M V
MV
N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, Leningrad, USSR.
Bystrova
M O
MO
Mironiuk
T A
TA
Sinotova
E N
EN
Ivin
B A
BA
Nefedov
V D
VD
Likhachev
A J
AJ
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
D000477:Alkylating Agents; D002273:Carcinogens; D002412:Cations; D009153:Mutagens; D014316:Tritium; D014498:Uracil; D008697:Methane; D013941:Thymine