Carcinogens Mixed-function oxidase

Oxidation is intimately linked to the activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to carcinogens (1-3). Oxidation of PAH in animals and man is enzyme-catalyzed and is a response to the introduction of foreign compounds into the cellular environment. The most intensively studied enzyme of PAH oxidation is cytochrome P-450, which is a mixed-function oxidase that receives its electrons from NADPH via a one or two component electron transport chain (10. Some forms of this enzyme play a major role in systemic metabolism of PAH (4 ). However, there are numerous examples of carcinogens that require metabolic activation, including PAH, that induce cancer in tissues with low mixed-function oxidase activity ( 5). In order to comprehensively evaluate the metabolic activation of PAH, one must consider all cellular pathways for their oxidative activation. 

In mammals the cytochrome P-U50 mediated monooxygenase or mixed function oxidase system involved in the elimination of lipophilic environmental contaminants and other foreign compounds, has been implicated in the carcinogen activation process. There are several distinct variants of cytochrome P-U50 in mammalian tissues and there may be more than one form of this ubiquitous cytochrome also in fish. The significance of this lies in the fact that different forms of cytochrome P-U50 result in different metabolite patterns, which in turn may reflect on the carcinogenicity or toxicity of compounds being metabolized. 

The marine environment acts as a sink for a large proportion of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and these compounds have become a major area of interest in aquatic toxicology. Mixed function oxidases (MFO) are a class of microsomal enzymes involved in oxidative transformation, the primary biochemical process in hydrocarbon detoxification as well as mutagen-carcinogen activation (1,2). The reactions carried out by these enzymes are mediated by multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 which controls the substrate specificity of the system (3). One class of MFO, the aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylases (AHH), has received considerable attention in relation to their role in hydrocarbon hydroxylation. AHH are found in various species of fish (4) and although limited data is available it appears that these enzymes may be present in a variety of aquatic animals (5,6,7,8). 

Exposure of various invertebrate species to high concentrations of petroleum did not induce mixed function oxidase activity. Enzyme activity was stimulated, however, in a number of fish tissues by petroleum. Different permutations can be addressed as to the significance of basal or induced levels of mixed function oxidases and hydrocarbon toxicity. AHH may have a physiological role in enhancing hydrocarbon clearance but may also increase the mutagenic-carcinogenic potential of hydrocarbons. Both of these concepts have been demonstrated in studies with fish (29,30). Induced AHH levels may permit a more rapid oxidative transformation with concomitant "disappearance" of parent hydrocarbons, but potentially toxic metabolites could be retained in tissues for longer periods (31). It is likely that at the enzymic level the... 

Hie mechanism by which the mixed function oxidase converts a nitrosamine into a carcinogenic compound is not clearly understood (]5). Hiese enzymic oxidations can occur at the alpha, beta, gamma, or omega position of an alkyl chain attached to the nitrosamine function. Regardless of whether or not these other oxidations are significant in carcinogenicity, it has been dorvon-strated that hydroxylation at the alpha position does indeed produce a carcinogen (33). Hie discussion which follows will be limited to those factors relative to oxidation at the a-position. 

Shaddock, J.G, Robinson, B.Y. Casciano, D.A. (1990) Effect of pretreatment with hepatic mixed-function oxidase inducers on the genotoxicity of four rat carcinogens in the hepa-tocyte/DNA repair assay. Mutagenesis, 5, 387-391... 

The microsomal mixed-function oxidase enzyme system further oxidizes the diol to the carcinogenic 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide ... 

We observed a protective effect of increased dietary protein on DMBA-induced breast tumor incidence when the diets varying in protein were fed prior to carcinogen administration. We have investigated the hypothesis that dietary protein may influence carcinogenesis via effects on the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) enzyme systems involved in carcinogen metabolism. 

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) is a complex mixed function oxidase enzyme which converts polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as DMBA to more hydrophilic and readily excretable products. During this process metabolites that are more carcinogenic than the parent compound can be produced. The distribution of MFO enzymes, their activity, and the balance between conversion of procarcinogens to active carcinogens and their detoxification is probably a... 

Dibenz[a,fi]anthracene is metabolically activated by the mixed function oxidase (MFO) system of the liver (P448) to form an epoxide that subsequently covalently binds to the DNA. This interaction with the DNA is believed to result in the carcinogenicity of the material. The particular area of the compound oxidized by the MFO system will result in epoxides of varying carcinogenic potency. 

Metabolic activation of PAHs consists of an oxidation of the rings of unsubstituted PAHs. These oxidations are carried out by mixed function oxidases of the liver which contain cytochromes P450 and P448 and require reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide and oxygen. In this oxidation, an epoxide intermediate is formed which has been shown to have the requisite chemical reactivity to bind covalently with DNA and histones and to serve as the ultimate carcinogenic form of PAH. Administration of 3-MC to rats increased hepatic nuclear proteins and caused a turnover of protein of the endoplasmic reticulum. Studies of " C amino acid incorporation showed that 3-MC causes increased protein synthesis and reduced degradation of protein. 

Oxidation of the rings of pyrene is an important step in its metabolism carried out by mixed function oxidases of the liver containing cytochromes P450 and P448. Epoxide intermediates are formed from oxidation. They are very reactive and can form covalent complexes with DNA and histones which serves as the ultimate carcinogenic form of pyrene. 

Factors that inhibit or alter the activity of the mixed function oxidase enzymes may increase the risk from exposure to the indicator compounds in the aromatic EC5-EC9 fraction (the BTEXs), the aromatic EC>16-EC35 fraction (the carcinogenic PAHs in this fraction) and a constituent of the aliphatic I < C5IiCH fraction (//-hexane). For example, concurrent alcohol consumption may increase the risk of central nervous system depression from the BTEXs, ototoxicity from toluene, and hematotoxicity from benzene. Acetone exposure may increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy of n-hexane. People who take haloperidol, acetaminophen, or aspirin, or who have a nutritionally inadequate diet, may also be more susceptible to the toxicity of these agents. ATSDR (1995f) noted that a substantial percentage of children consume less than the recommended dietary allowances of certain nutrients. 

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