title: Mutagenic activation of xenobiotics by plant enzymes.
abstract: Genetic evidence has indicated that plants can activate certain xenobiotics to mutagens, but biochemical evidence is as yet scarce. Nevertheless, plant microsomal enzymes and peroxidases have been shown to form reactive intermediates, the best studied examples being 2-aminofluorene, benzo[a]pyrene and pentachlorophenol. The latter two xenobiotics are converted to quinoid derivatives which are, in principle, able to redox cycle and generate active oxygen species. In analogy to results obtained in mammalian systems, covalent binding of reactive intermediates to DNA as well as fragmentation of DNA, are proposed as major mechanisms of action of mutagenic plant metabolites.
authors.affiliation: Gesellschaft für Strahlen- und Umweltforschung mbH München, Institut für Biochemische Pflanzenpathologie, Neuherberg, F.R.G.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sandermann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D004249:DNA Damage; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D009153:Mutagens; D010940:Plant Proteins; D010544:Peroxidases; D010100:Oxygen