title: Generation and functional characterization of arylamine N-acetyltransferase Nat1/Nat2 double-knockout mice.
abstract: Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) catalyze the biotransformation of a variety of arylamine drugs and carcinogens and may play diametrically opposing roles in enhancing either the detoxification of these chemicals or their metabolic activation into DNA-binding electrophiles. To facilitate the study of these processes, we have generated a Nat1/Nat2 double-knockout mouse model by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. Nat1/2(-/-) mice were born at the expected frequency and seemed normal and viable with no overt phenotype, indicating that these genes are not critical for development or physiological homeostasis. In wild-type mice, NAT1 and NAT2 transcripts were detectable by RT-PCR in all tissues assayed including liver, kidney, colon, brain, bladder, and spleen. NAT1 and NAT2 transcripts were completely undetectable in the Nat1/2(-/-) mice. The in vitro N-acetylation of p-aminosalicylate was detected at significant levels in liver and kidney cytosols from either wild-type inbred 'rapid acetylator' C57BL/6 mice or from outbred CD-1 mice possessing homozygous rapid, heterozygous, or homozygous 'slow acetylator' Nat2 genotypes. Activity was undetectable in cytosol preparations from Nat1/2(-/-) mice. Nat1/2(-/-) mice also displayed severely compromised in vivo pharmacokinetics of p-aminosalicylate (PAS) and sulfamethazine (SMZ), with a drastically increased plasma area under the curve for PAS and a complete absence of their acetylated metabolites (AcPAS or AcSMZ) from plasma, confirming the functional absence of these enzymes and impaired drug metabolism capacity. This knockout mouse model should be helpful in delineating the role that variation in acetylating enzymes plays in mediating interindividual differences in susceptibility to arylamine-induced chemical toxicity and/or carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building 1, King's College Circle, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada. ks.sugamori@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Kim S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Sugamori
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaedigk
authors.forename: Violeta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abramovici
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rozmahel
authors.forename: Denis M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Grant
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D026924:Amino Acid Transport System A; D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D000818:Animals; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D026924:Amino Acid Transport System A; D026905:Amino Acid Transport Systems; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007527:Isoenzymes; C432411:Slc38a1 protein, mouse; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; C089384:N-acetyltransferase 1