title: N-methylation: potential mechanism for metabolic activation of carcinogenic primary arylamines.
abstract: Two amine N-methyltransferases isolated from rabbit liver catalyze S-adenosylmethionine-dependent N-methylation of benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl but not of 4-aminoazobenzene or 2-aminobiphenyl. The enzymatic reaction products were analyzed and found to be identical to synthetic N-methylbenzidine and N-methyl-4-aminobiphenyl. N-Methylation may be a critical step in the metabolic activation of primary arylamines because N-methylarylamines, unlike primary arylamines, are readily N-oxygenated by the NADPH- and oxygen-dependent microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase. Kinetic studies carried out with the purified porcine liver monooxygenase demonstrate that, while activity with primary arylamines could not be detected, N-methyl derivatives of benzidine, 4-aminoazobenzene, and 4-aminobiphenyl are substrates. Products formed from N-methyl-4-aminobiphenyl had the properties of the hydroxylamine and/or nitrone in that the enzyme- and time-dependent incubation product(s) reduced Fe3+ to Fe2+, and formaldehyde was formed during the course of the reaction. These data suggest that N-methyl-4-aminobiphenyl is oxidized to N-hydroxy-N-methyl-4-aminobiphenyl, which can undergo further oxidation to a nitrone that hydrolyzes to formaldehyde and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl.
authors: Clayton Foundation Biochemical Institute, Department of Chemistry, University of Texas, Austin 78712.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Ziegler
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Ansher
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Nagata
authors: F F
authors: FF
authors: Kadlubar
authors: W B
authors: WB
authors: Jakoby
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007700:Kinetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D002273:Carcinogens; D006899:Mixed Function Oxygenases; D008780:Methyltransferases