Methyl-substitution of benzene and toluene in preparations of human bone marrow |
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Authors: | J W Flesher S R Myers |
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Institution: | Department of Pharmacology, A. B. Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40536. |
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Abstract: | The metabolism of benzene and toluene was investigated in preparations of human bone marrow incubated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Benzene undergoes a methyl-substitution reaction to yield toluene as a metabolite. Furthermore, toluene undergoes methyl-substitution in preparations of human bone marrow incubated with S-adenosyl-L-methionine to yield o-xylene, m-xylene, and p-xylene. Metabolites were detected by gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. No metabolism of either benzene or toluene was detected when a boiled bone marrow preparation was used in the incubation, demonstrating the enzymatic nature of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine dependent methylation of both benzene and toluene. |
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