Skip to main content
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America logoLink to Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
. 1972 Nov;69(11):3128–3132. doi: 10.1073/pnas.69.11.3128

Carcinogens as Frameshift Mutagens: Metabolites and Derivatives of 2-Acetylaminofluorene and Other Aromatic Amine Carcinogens

Bruce N Ames *, E G Gurney *, James A Miller , H Bartsch
PMCID: PMC389719  PMID: 4564203

Abstract

Several carcinogenic metabolites of the carcinogen 2-acetyl-aminofluorene, especially 2-nitrosofluorene and N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene, are potent frameshift mutagens for Salmonella typhimurium. 2-Nitrosonaphthalene, 2-nitrosophenanthrene, 4-nitroso-trans-stilbene, 4-nitrosobiphenyl, and 4-nitrosoazobenzene, all of which are metabolites or likely metabolites of carcinogenic aromatic amines, are also potent frameshift mutagens. These compounds may be frameshift mutagens of the class that intercalates into DNA and then reacts covalently with the DNA; various ultimate carcinogens may be of this type. The utility of a set of bacterial strains for detecting carcinogens as mutagens is shown.

Keywords: aromatic nitroso carcinogens, carcinogen detection with Salmonella, DNA intercalation

Full text

PDF
3128

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. ANDERSEN R. A., ENOMOTO M., MILLER E. C., MILLER J. A. CARCINOGENESIS AND INHIBITION OF THE WALKER 256 TUMOR IN THE RAT BY TRANS-4-ACETYLAMINOSTILBENE, ITS N-HYDROXY METABOLITE, AND RELATED COMPOUNDS. Cancer Res. 1964 Jan;24:128–143. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Albert A. Relations between molecular structure 6501 and biological activity: stages in the evolution of current concepts. Annu Rev Pharmacol. 1971;11:13–36. doi: 10.1146/annurev.pa.11.040171.000305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ames B. N., Sims P., Grover P. L. Epoxides of carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons are frameshift mutagens. Science. 1972 Apr 7;176(4030):47–49. doi: 10.1126/science.176.4030.47. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Ames B. N., Whitfield H. J., Jr Frameshift mutagenesis in Salmonella. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1966;31:221–225. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1966.031.01.030. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Brill E. Diethyl azodicarboxylate oxidation of some carcinogenic arylhydroxylamines to nitroso derivatives. Experientia. 1969;25(7):680–680. doi: 10.1007/BF01897554. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cleaver J. E. Xeroderma pigmentosum: a human disease in which an initial stage of DNA repair is defective. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1969 Jun;63(2):428–435. doi: 10.1073/pnas.63.2.428. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Corbett T. H., Heidelberger C., Dove W. F. Determination of the mutagenic activity to bacteriophage T4 of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic compounds. Mol Pharmacol. 1970 Nov;6(6):667–679. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Creech H. J., Preston R. K., Peck R. M., O'Connell A. P. Antitumor and mutagenic properties of a variety of heterocyclic nitrogen and sulfur mustards. J Med Chem. 1972 Jul;15(7):739–746. doi: 10.1021/jm00277a011. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Garner R. C., Miller E. C., Miller J. A., Garner J. V., Hanson R. S. Formation of a factor lethal for S. typhimurium TA1530 and TA1531 on incubation of aflatoxin B 1 with rat liver microsomes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1971 Nov 5;45(3):774–780. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(71)90484-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hartman P. E., Hartman Z., Stahl R. C. Classification and mapping of spontaneous and induced mutations in the histidine operon of Salmonella. Adv Genet. 1971;16:1–34. doi: 10.1016/s0065-2660(08)60352-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Hartman P. E., Levine K., Hartman Z., Berger H. Hycanthone: a frameshift mutagen. Science. 1971 Jun 4;172(3987):1058–1060. doi: 10.1126/science.172.3987.1058. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Irving C. C., Veazey R. A., Hill J. T. Reaction of the glucuronide of the carcinogen N-hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene with nucleic acids. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1969 Mar 18;179(1):189–198. doi: 10.1016/0005-2787(69)90135-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Jordan D. O., Sansom L. N. Interaction of proflavine and 9-aminoacridine with DNA at temperatures below and above the melting temperature. Biopolymers. 1971;10(2):399–410. doi: 10.1002/bip.360100214. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kapuler A. M., Michelson A. M. The reaction of the carcinogen N-acetoxy-2-acetyl-aminofluorene with DNA and other polynucleotides and its stereochemical implications. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1971 Mar 25;232(3):436–450. doi: 10.1016/0005-2787(71)90598-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. King C. M., Phillips B. N-hydroxy-2-fluorenylacetamide. Reaction of the carcinogen with guanosine, ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid, and protein following enzymatic deacetylation or esterification. J Biol Chem. 1969 Nov 25;244(22):6209–6216. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Kriek E., Miller J. A., Juhl U., Miller E. C. 8-(N-2-fluorenylacetamido)guanosine, an arylamidation reaction product of guanosine and the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide in neutral solution. Biochemistry. 1967 Jan;6(1):177–182. doi: 10.1021/bi00853a029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Kriek E. On the interaction of N-2-fluorenylhydroxylamine with nucleic acids in vitro. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1965 Sep 22;20(6):793–799. doi: 10.1016/0006-291x(65)90088-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kriek E., Reitsema J. Interaction of the carcinogen N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene with polyadenylic acid: dependence of reactivity on conformation. Chem Biol Interact. 1971 Oct;3(5):397–400. doi: 10.1016/0009-2797(71)90019-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. LERMAN L. S. Structural considerations in the interaction of DNA and acridines. J Mol Biol. 1961 Feb;3:18–30. doi: 10.1016/s0022-2836(61)80004-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Li H. J., Crothers D. M. Relaxation studies of the proflavine-DNA complex: the kinetics of an intercalation reaction. J Mol Biol. 1969 Feb 14;39(3):461–477. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(69)90138-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Lotlikar P. D., Miller E. C., Miller J. A., Margreth A. The enzymatic reduction of the N-hydroxy derivatives of 2-acetylaminofluorene and related carcinogens by tissue preparations. Cancer Res. 1965 Nov;25(10):1743–1752. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Löber G., Achtert G. On the complex formation of acridine dyes with DNA. VII. Dependence of the binding on the dye structure. Biopolymers. 1969;8(5):595–608. doi: 10.1002/bip.1969.360080504. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. MILLER E. C., MILLER J. A., ENOMOTO M. THE COMPARATIVE CARCINOGENICITIES OF 2-ACETYLAMINOFLUORENE AND ITS N-HYDROXY METABOLITE IN MICE, HAMSTERS, AND GUINEA PIGS. Cancer Res. 1964 Dec;24:2018–2031. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. MILLER E. C., MILLER J. A., HARTMANN H. A. N-Hydroxy-2-acetylaminofluorene: a metabolite of 2-acetylaminofluorene with increased carcinogenic activity in the rat. Cancer Res. 1961 Jul;21:815–824. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. MORRIS H. P., VELAT C. A., WAGNER B. P., DAHLGARD M., RAY F. E. Studies of carcinogenicity in the rate of derivatives of aromatic amines related to N-2-fluorenylacetamide. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1960 Jan;24:149–180. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Maher V. M., Miller E. C., Miller J. A., Szybalski W. Mutations and decreases in density of transforming DNA produced by derivatives of the carcinogens 2-acetyl-aminofluorene and N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene. Mol Pharmacol. 1968 Sep;4(5):411–426. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Maher V. M., Miller J. A., Miller E. C., Summers W. C. Mutations and loss of transforming activity of Bacillus subtilis DNA after reaction with esters of carcinogenic N-hydroxy aromatic amides. Cancer Res. 1970 May;30(5):1473–1480. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Mayer V. W. Mutagenic effects induced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by breakdown products of I-naphthylamine and 2-naphthylamine formed in an enzyme-free hydroxylation system. Mutat Res. 1972 Jun;15(2):147–153. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(72)90027-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Miller E. C., Lotlikar P. D., Pitot H. C., Fletcher T. L., Miller J. A. N-hydroxy metabolites of 2-acetylaminophenanthrene and 7-fluoro-2-acetylaminofluorene as proximate carcinogens in the rat. Cancer Res. 1966 Nov;26(11):2239–2247. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Nelson J. H., Grunberger D., Cantor C. R., Weinstein I. B. Modification of ribonucleic acid by chemical carcinogens. IV. Circular dichroism and proton magnetic resonance studies of oligonucleotides modified with N-2-acetylaminofluorene. J Mol Biol. 1971 Dec 14;62(2):331–346. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(71)90431-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. O'Brien R. L., Allison J. L., Hahn F. E. Evidence for intercalation of chloroquine into DNA. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1966 Dec 21;129(3):622–624. doi: 10.1016/0005-2787(66)90078-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Oeschger N. S., Hartman P. E. ICR-induced frameshift mutations in the histidine operon of Salmonella. J Bacteriol. 1970 Feb;101(2):490–504. doi: 10.1128/jb.101.2.490-504.1970. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. POIRIER L. A., MILLER J. A., MILLER E. C. The N- and ring-hydroxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene and the failure to detect N-acetylation of 2-aminofluorene in the dog. Cancer Res. 1963 Jun;23:790–800. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  34. Perez G., Radomski J. L. The mutagenicity of the N-hydroxy naphthylamines in relation to their carcinogenicity. Ind Med Surg. 1965 Sep;34(9):714–716. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  35. Radomski J. L., Brill E., Deichmann W. B., Glass E. M. Carcinogenicity testing of N-hydroxy and other oxidation and decomposition products of 1- and 2-naphthylamine. Cancer Res. 1971 Oct;31(10):1461–1467. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  36. Riddle D. L., Roth J. R. Frameshift suppressors. 3. Effects of suppressor mutations on transfer RNA. J Mol Biol. 1972 May 28;66(3):495–506. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(72)90429-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  37. Sakoda M., Hiromi K., Akasaka K. Kinetic studies of interaction between acridine orange and DNA. Biopolymers. 1971 Jun;10(6):1003–1012. doi: 10.1002/bip.360100606. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  38. Sato K., Poirier L. A., Miller J. A., Miller E. C. Studies on the N-hydroxylation and carcinogenicity of 4-aminoazobenzene and related compounds. Cancer Res. 1966 Aug;26(8):1678–1687. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  39. Saucier J. M., Festy B., Le Pecq J. B. The change of the torsion of the DNA helix caused by intercalation. II. Measurement of the relative change of torsion induced by various intercalating drugs. Biochimie. 1971;53(9):973–980. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9084(71)80065-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  40. Setlow R. B., Regan J. D. Defective repair of N-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene-induced lesions in the DNA of xeroderma pigmentosum cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1972 Jan 31;46(2):1019–1024. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(72)80243-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  41. Slater E. E., Anderson M. D., Rosenkranz H. S. Rapid detection of mutagens and carcinogens. Cancer Res. 1971 Jul;31(7):970–973. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  42. Steinert M. Specific loss of kinetoplastic DNA in trypanosomatidae treated with ethidium bromide. Exp Cell Res. 1969 May;55(2):248–252. doi: 10.1016/0014-4827(69)90487-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  43. Streisinger G., Okada Y., Emrich J., Newton J., Tsugita A., Terzaghi E., Inouye M. Frameshift mutations and the genetic code. This paper is dedicated to Professor Theodosius Dobzhansky on the occasion of his 66th birthday. Cold Spring Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1966;31:77–84. doi: 10.1101/sqb.1966.031.01.014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  44. Takebe H., Furuyama J. I., Miki Y., Kondo S. High sensitivity of Xeroderma pigmentosum cells to the carcinogen 4-nitroguinoline-1-oxide. Mutat Res. 1972 May;15(1):98–100. doi: 10.1016/0027-5107(72)90099-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  45. Yourno J., Ino I., Kono T. A hotspot for spontaneous frameshift mutations in the histidinol dehydrogenase gene of Salmonella typhimurium. J Mol Biol. 1971 Nov 28;62(1):233–240. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(71)90142-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  46. Yourno J., Kohno T. Externally suppressible proline quadruplet ccc U. Science. 1972 Feb 11;175(4022):650–652. doi: 10.1126/science.175.4022.650. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America are provided here courtesy of National Academy of Sciences

RESOURCES