Treatment of lacZ plasmid-based transgenic mice with benzo[a]pyrene: measurement of DNA adduct levels, mutant frequencies, and mutant spectra.
The evaluation of the relationship between the dose to DNA of a genotoxic carcinogen and in vivo somatic cell mutagenesis may provide important information on the mechanisms leading to induced mutational events. The induction of DNA adducts and DNA mutations in different tissues of lacZ plasmid-based transgenic mice has been investigated following a single intraperitoneal administration of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). DNA adducts were measured by (32)P-postlabeling at times between 1 and 28 days following injection and DNA mutations in the lacZ reporter gene were quantified using a highly efficient immunomagnetic purification of the lacZ-containing pUR288 plasmid, followed by electrotransformation of circularized plasmids into a host-restriction negative E. coli C (DeltalacZ, galE (-)) host. The major DNA adduct formed by B[a]P, N (2)-(10beta-[7beta,8alpha, 9alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene]yl-deoxyguanosine, reached maximum levels between 5 and 7 days followed by a gradual decrease. The induced mutant frequency reached a maximum between 7 and 14 days, after the DNA adduct level in a particular tissue had reached its apparent maximum between 5 and 7 days. The mutant spectrum, defined as the percentage of no-change and size-change mutations in a particular tissue, changed from predominantly size-change mutations in untreated tissues to predominantly no-change mutations in tissues displaying the highest B[a]P-induced mutant frequencies. Contrary to the assumption that there are no factors that can eliminate mutations once they exist, it was observed that mutant frequencies in the organs studied declined to background levels, which was accompanied by a change in the mutant spectrum from predominantly no-change mutations to predominantly size-change mutations.
Boerrigter
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Leven, Incorporated, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA. boerrigt@levenic.com
D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis*; D007763:Lac Operon; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; D010957:Plasmids
D018736:DNA Adducts; D010761:Phosphorus Radioisotopes; C056612:benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adduct; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene