title: Fluorobenzo[a]pyrenes as probes of the mechanism of cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxygen transfer in aromatic oxygenations.
abstract: Fluoro substitution of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) has been very useful in determining the mechanism of cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxygen transfer in the formation of 6-hydroxyBP (6-OHBP) and its resulting BP 1,6-, 3,6-, and 6,12-diones. We report here the metabolism of 1-FBP and 3-FBP, and PM3 calculations of charge densities and bond orders in the neutral molecules and radical cations of BP, 1-FBP, 3-FBP, and 6-FBP, to determine the mechanism of oxygen transfer for the formation of BP metabolites. 1-FBP and 3-FBP were metabolized by rat liver microsomes. The products were analyzed by HPLC and identified by NMR. Formation of BP 1,6-dione and BP 3,6-dione from 1-FBP and 3-FBP, respectively, can only occur by removal of the fluoro ion from C-1 and C-3, respectively, via one-electron oxidation of the substrate. The combined metabolic and theoretical studies reveal the mechanism of oxygen transfer in the P450-catalyzed formation of BP metabolites. Initial abstraction of a pi electron from BP by the [Fe(4+)=O](+)(*) of cytochrome P450 affords BP(+)(*). This is followed by oxygen transfer to the most electropositive carbon atoms, C-6, C-1, and C-3, with formation of 6-OHBP (and its quinones), 1-OHBP, and 3-OHBP, respectively, or the most electropositive 4,5-, 7,8-, and 9,10- double bonds, with formation of BP 4,5-, 7,8-, or 9,10-oxide.
authors.affiliation: Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Gorlaeus Laboratories, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Patrick P J
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: Prabu
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Devanesan
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Alem
authors.forename: Gerrit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lodder
authors.forename: Eleanor G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Rogan
authors.forename: Ercole L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Cavalieri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D001580:Benzopyrenes; C085536:1-fluorobenzo(a)pyrene; C085537:3-fluorobenzo(a)pyrene; C012323:6-fluorobenzo(a)pyrene; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010100:Oxygen