The metabolic activation of benz[a]anthracene in hamster embryo cells: evidence that diol-epoxides react with guanosine, deoxyguanosine and adenosine in nucleic acids

The principal nucleoside-hydrocarbon adducts present in hydrolysates of RNA and DNA isolated from hamster embryo cells treated with benz[a]anthracene (BA) were examined by chromatography on Sephadex LH 20 and by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) on Spherisorb 5 ODS. The results extend the previous finding that a non-'bay-region' diol-epoxide, anti-BA-8,9-diol 10,11-oxide (r-8,t-9-dihydroxy-t-10,11-oxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydrobenz[a] anthracene) is involved in the binding of BA to cellular nucleic acids and show that this diol-epoxide most probably reacts with guanosine and adenosine in RNA and with deoxyguanosine in DNA. The results also show that a 'bay-region' diol-epoxide anti-BA-3,4-diol 1,2-oxide (t-3,-4-dihydroxy-t-1,2-oxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracene, which is thought to be involved in the binding of benz[a]anthracene, which is thought to be involved in the binding of benz[a]anthracene to DNA in some situations, reacts mainly with deoxyguanosine.     

Reactions of polycyclic hydrocarbon epoxides with RNA and polyribonucleotides

RNA, poly(G) and poly(A) were reacted with benz[a]anthracene 5,6-oxide or with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene 5,6-oxide and hydrolysates of the alkylated polymers examined using a combination of Sephadex LH20 column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography on silica gel. The results show that two RNA products are formed in reactions with benz[a]anthracene 5,6-oxide, one resulting from reaction with guanine and the other from reaction with adenine. With 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene 5,6-oxide, six RNA products appeared to be formed, two resulting from reactions with guanine and three from alkylation of adenine; the other product has not been identified.     

Regulation of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo-(A)-pyrene) hydroxylase activity in mammalian cells. Induction of hydroxylase activity by N6,O2'-dibutyryl8 adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and aminophylline.

Treatment of hamster BHK cells with N6,O2'-dibutyryl adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (Bt2cAMP), aminophylline, theophylline, or papaverine increased the level of aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydrolxylase activity. The highese increase, 100-fold, was obtained with Bt2cAMP plus aminophylline or theophylline. N2,O2-Dibutyryl guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate gave a lower induction than Bt2cAMP. The level of hydroxylase activity started to decrease 6 hours after treatment with the inducer and was reduced to almost the uninduced level after 24 hours. Repeated addition of Bt2cAMP and aminophylline did not prevent this decrease. The hydroxylase can also be induced by treating cells with benz(a)anthracene, and the level of this induced activity was maintained for 24 hours. Aminophylline gave a 2- to 8-fold stimulation of the induction by benz(a)anthracene. The enzyme activity induced by Bt2cAMP, aminophylline, and benz(a)anthracene converted benzo(a)pyrene to similar alkali-extractable metabolities with a fluorescence spectra similar to that of 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene. These induced enzyme activities also showed a similar heat stability. Induction by Bt2cAMP and aminophylline, like induction by benz(a)anthracene, required continued protein synthesis and only an initial period of RNA synthesis. Compared to the benz(a)anthracene-induced hydroxylase with a Km of 4.3 muM, the hydroxylase induced by Bt2cAMP and aminophylline showed a Km of 0.14 muM, and was 100-fold more sensitive to inhibition by 7,8-benzoflavone. Increasing the serum concentration in the culture medium stimulated the induction by aminophylline but did not stimulate induction by benz(a)anthracene. The results indicate that aryl hydrocaarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase can be induced by compounds that increase the level of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate and that this induction and induced enzyme activity differs from that caused by benz(a)anthracene.     

Regiospecific oxidation of polycyclic aromatic dihydrodiols by rat liver dihydrodiol dehydrogenase

Rat liver dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (DDH, E.C. 1.3.1.20) has recently been shown to oxidize the highly carcinogenic benz[a]anthracene-3,4- dihydrodiol in an NADP(+)-dependent reaction to its corresponding catechol. The present study is a systematic investigation of the substrate specificity of the purified enzyme towards synthetic trans-dihydrodiol metabolites of phenanthrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, dibenz[a, h]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene. DDH exhibited a remarkable regiospecificity of enzymatic catalysis with regard to the site of the dihydrodiol moiety of the parent hydrocarbon. M-region- and, with lower efficiency, bay-region dihydrodiols were found to be good substrates of the enzyme with maximal velocities between 20-80 nmol/min per mg enzyme and Km values in the micromolar range. K-region dihydrodiols were not accepted as substrates. Dihydrodiols situated at the terminal ring of an anthracene-type structure such as benz[a]anthracene-8,9-dihydrodiol as well as the corresponding dihydrodiol epoxides were also not oxidized by DDH at measurable rates. The results provide evidence for a detoxifying role of DDH in the metabolism of the chemical carcinogens benz[a]anthracene, chrysene and dibenz[a, h]anthracene.     

Mutagenicity of non-K-region diols and diol-epoxides of benz(a)anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene in S. typhimurium TA 100

When incubated with a 9,000 x g rat-liver supernatant, benzo(a)pyrene 7,8-diol and benz(a)anthracene 8,9-diol were more active than the parent hydrocarbons in inducing his⁺ revertant colonies of S. typhimurium TA 100. Benzo(a) pyrene 9,10-diol was less active than benzo(a)pyrene; the K-region diols, benz(a)anthracene 5,6-diol and benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-diol, were inactive. None of the diols was active when the cofactors for the microsomal mono-oxygenase were omitted. The diol-epoxides benzo(a)pyrene 7,8-diol 9,10-oxide, benz(a)anthracene 8,9-diol 10,11-oxide and 7-methylbenz(a)anthracene 8,9-diol 10,11-oxide and the K-region epoxides, benzo(a)pyrene 4,5-oxide and benz(a)anthracene 5,6-oxide, were mutagenic without further metabolism.     

Benz[a]anthracene Biotransformation and Production of Ring Fission Products by Sphingobium sp. Strain KK22

A soil bacterium, designated strain KK22, was isolated from a phenanthrene enrichment culture of a bacterial consortium that grew on diesel fuel, and it was found to biotransform the persistent environmental pollutant and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) benz[a]anthracene. Nearly complete sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of strain KK22 and phylogenetic analysis revealed that this organism is a new member of the genus Sphingobium. An 8-day time course study that consisted of whole-culture extractions followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses with fluorescence detection showed that 80 to 90% biodegradation of 2.5 mg liter⁻¹ benz[a]anthracene had occurred. Biodegradation assays where benz[a]anthracene was supplied in crystalline form (100 mg liter⁻¹) confirmed biodegradation and showed that strain KK22 cells precultured on glucose were equally capable of benz[a]anthracene biotransformation when precultured on glucose plus phenanthrene. Analyses of organic extracts from benz[a]anthracene biodegradation by liquid chromatography negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry [LC/ESI(−)-MS/MS] revealed 10 products, including two o-hydroxypolyaromatic acids and two hydroxy-naphthoic acids. 1-Hydroxy-2- and 2-hydroxy-3-naphthoic acids were unambiguously identified, and this indicated that oxidation of the benz[a]anthracene molecule occurred via both the linear kata and angular kata ends of the molecule. Other two- and single-aromatic-ring metabolites were also documented, including 3-(2-carboxyvinyl)naphthalene-2-carboxylic acid and salicylic acid, and the proposed pathways for benz[a]anthracene biotransformation by a bacterium were extended.     

Shapes of benz[a]anthracenes: the crystal and molecular structure of 6-methylbenz[a]anthracene

The crystal structure of 6-methylbenz[a]anthracene (6-MBA), a more potent carcinogen than the other K-region monomethyl-substituted benz[a]anthracene (5-MBA), has been determined by application of direct methods to single-crystal X-ray diffractometric data and refined by least squares to R = 0.047 (Rw = 0.053). Deviations of the carbon atoms from planarity are very small with even the methyl carbon displaced by only 0.05 A from the mean molecular plane. The benzo-ring A is inclined at only about 1 1/2 degrees to each of the three rings in the anthracene moiety, i.e. 6-MBA is one of the most nearly planar benz[a]anthracenes. The K-region bond C(5)-C(6) = 1.328(6) A and two other short bonds are C(8)-C(9) = 1.341(7) and C(10)-C(11) = 1.361(7) A in the anthracene D ring.     

Bacterial oxidation of chemical carcinogens: formation of polycyclic aromatic acids from benz[a]anthracene

A Beijerinckia strain designated strain B1 was shown to oxidize benz[a]anthracene after induction with biphenyl, m-xylene, and salicylate. Biotransformation experiments showed that after 14 h a maximum of 56% of the benz[a]anthracene was converted to an isomeric mixture of three o-hydroxypolyaromatic acids. Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectral analyses led to the identification of the major metabolite as 1-hydroxy-2-anthranoic acid. Two minor metabolites were also isolated and identified as 2-hydroxy-3-phenanthroic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-phenanthroic acid. Mineralization experiments with [12-14C]benz[a]anthracene led to the formation of 14CO2. These results show that the hydroxy acids can be further oxidized and that at least two rings of the benz[a]anthracene molecule can be degraded.     

Bacterial oxidation of chemical carcinogens: formation of polycyclic aromatic acids from benz[a]anthracene.

A Beijerinckia strain designated strain B1 was shown to oxidize benz[a]anthracene after induction with biphenyl, m-xylene, and salicylate. Biotransformation experiments showed that after 14 h a maximum of 56% of the benz[a]anthracene was converted to an isomeric mixture of three o-hydroxypolyaromatic acids. Nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectral analyses led to the identification of the major metabolite as 1-hydroxy-2-anthranoic acid. Two minor metabolites were also isolated and identified as 2-hydroxy-3-phenanthroic acid and 3-hydroxy-2-phenanthroic acid. Mineralization experiments with [12-14C]benz[a]anthracene led to the formation of 14CO2. These results show that the hydroxy acids can be further oxidized and that at least two rings of the benz[a]anthracene molecule can be degraded.     

Shapes of carcinogenic benz[alpha]anthracenes: an x-ray crystal structure analysis of 12-methylbenz[alpha]anthracene.

The crystal structure of the moderately active carcinogen 12-methylbenz[alpha]anthracene (12-MBA) has been determined by application of direct methods to X-ray single-crystal diffraction data. Least-squares refinement to a residual R = 0.09 over 929 independent reflections enabled carbon positions to be established with apparent e.s.d.s. of atomic coordinates about 0.008 A. Deviation from planarity is exemplified by the 15.5 degrees inclination of the benz ring (A) to the anthracene nucleus and by the 0.89 A distance of the methyl carbon out of the best plane through the whole benzanthracene nucleus. Comparison with the structure of the highly carcinogenic 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (7,12-DMBA), and with the recently solved structures of the weak carcinogen 1-MBA and the extremely weak carcinogen 1,12-DMBA, shows a close similarity in the anthracene parts; in 1-MBA, and 1,12-DMBA, the phenanthrenic K-region bond is close to 1.34 A and the M-region bond about 1.38 A. In 12-MBA, overcrowding in the 'bay' region causes the central anthracene ring C and the benz ring A each to be bent about 10 degrees in opposite directions from the phenanthrenic B ring, much as in 1-MBA and 7,12-DMBA, but less than in 1,12-DMBA; the 12-methyl carbon lies about the same distance (0.55 A) above the anthracene plane in 12-MBA as in 1,12-MBA and 7,12-DMBA.     

Mutagenicity of polycyclic hydrocarbons III. Monitoring genetic hazards of benz(a)anthracene

Mutagenicity tests (micronucleus test and chromosome aberrations) have been performed with benz (a) anthracene in spermatogonia and bond marrow cells of Chinese hamsters and in NMRI mice oocytes. Mutagenic effects of the polycyclic hydrocarbon could be demonstrated.     

Glass-capillary-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry data of mono- and polyhydroxylated benz[a]anthracene. Comparison with benz[a]anthracene metabolites from rat liver microsomes

By means of glass-capillary-gas chromatography all possible benz[a]anthracene metabolites formed by rat liver microsomes (phenols, dihydrodiols, dihydrodiol enols and tetrahydrotetrols) can be separated. Mass spectra of their trimethylsilyl ethers show intense molecule ions and, in most cases, characteristic fragments. K-Region diols and their secondary oxidation products can be recognized by the ratio (m/e 147) (m/e 191) greater than 1, whereas the ratio is inverse in all other dihydrodiol trimethylsilyl ethers investigated. With the exception of 1,2-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene-1,2,3-triol all vicinal dihydrodiol enols investigated exhibit an intense elimination of the fragment CH = CH-OSiMe3 according to m/e 379. The conformation of vicinal tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracenetetrols possibly can be distinguished by the intensity of m/e 380 (M - 240) since only in those possessing two or more subsequent Me3SiO groups in the same conformation intense elimination of Me3Si-O-CH = CH-O-SiMe3 is observed. Retention times and mass spectrometric data of a series of synthetic benz[a]anthracene derivatives are presented as a base for the identification of benz[a]anthracene metabolites in biological systems.     

Comparison of properties on non-protected fluid room temperature phosphorescence of some tetra-ring aromatic hydrocarbons.

A comparative study of the photoluminescence properties of three kinds of tetra-ring aromatic hydrocarbon (1-sodium pyrenesulphonate, benz[alpha]anthracene and chrysene) solution in the absence of any protecting medium is described. It was found that a room temperature phosphorescence signal with different intensities can be induced for these solutions, using only TlNO3 or KI as a heavy atom perturber (HAP) and Na2SO3 as a deoxygenator. An appropriate amount of organic solvent added to the systems of pyrene, benz[alpha]anthracene and chrysene is necessary for increasing the solubility and phosphorescence intensity, and the preferable solvent is acetonitrile. For the pyrene, pyrenesulphonate and chrysene systems, a delayed excimer fluorescence accompanied with the room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission can be observed, but that for benz[alpha]anthracene cannot. The ratio of delayed excimer fluorescence and phosphorescence signals for pyrene, pyrenesulphonate and chrysene systems can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of luminophor, kinds and amount of both organic solvents and HAP. Under the optimal conditions, the RTP signals are proportional to the concentration of the four aromatic hydrocarbons, which means that the RTP properties of the four tetra-ring aromatic hydrocarbons can be used for quantitative analysis.     

Vitamins E and K induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in human cell cultures

Two fat soluble vitamins, Vitamins E and K, when added into culture medium, were found to increase aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in human cultured cells. The extent of induction in a hepatoma-derived cell line (Hep G2) by these vitamins is of similar magnitude to those cells receiving benz[a]anthracene; whereas in a mammary tumor-derived cell line (MCF-7), benz[a]anthracene is the best inducer for the hydroxylase activity. The increase of the hydroxylase activity is associated with increased levels of a specific mRNA coding for polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons-induced form of cytochrome P-450 with Vitamins E and K treatment. The size of the induced mRNA is 3.3 kilobase which is the same as that of benz[a]anthracene treatment.     

The formation of dihydrodiols by the chemical or enzymic oxidation of benz[a] anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene.

When benz[a] anthracene was oxidised in a reaction mixture containing ascorbic acid, ferrous sulphate and EDTA, the non-K-region dihydrodiols, trans-1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxybenz[a] anthracene and trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxybenz[a] anthracene together with small amounts of the 8,9- and 10,11-dihydrodiols were formed. When oxidised in a similar system, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene yielded the K-region dihydrodiol, trans-5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene and the non-K-region dihydrodiols, trans-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene, trans-8,9-dihydro-8,9-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene, trans-10,11-dihydro-10,11-dihydroxy-7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene and a trace of the 1,2-dihydrodiol. The structures and sterochemistry of the dihydrodiols were established by comparisons of their UV spectra and chromatographic characteristics using HPLC with those of authentic compounds or, when no authentic compounds were available, by UV, NMR and mass spectral analysis. An examination by HPLC of the dihydrodiols formed in the metabolism, by rat-liver microsomal fractions, of benz[a] anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene was carried out. The metabolic dihydriols were identified by comparisons of their chromatographic and UV or fluorescence spectral characteristics with compounds of known structures. The principle metabolic dihydriols formed from both benz[a] anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene were the trans-5,6- and trans-8,9-dihydrodiols. The 1,2- and 10,11-dihydrodiols were identified as minor products of the metabolism of benz [a] anthracene and the tentative identification of the trans-3,4-dihydriol as a metabolite was made from fluorescence and chromatographic data. The minor metabolic dihydriols formed from 7,12-dimethylbenz[a] anthracene were the trans-3,4-dihydrodiol and the trans-10,11-dihydriol but the trans-1,2-dihydrodiol was not detected in the present study.     

Further evaluation of the skin micronucleus test: results obtained using 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The standard in vivo micronucleus (MN) test detects clastogenicity in hematopoietic cells and is not suitable for detecting chemicals that target the skin. Previously, we have developed an in vivo rodent skin MN test that is simple to perform and can be applied to several laboratory animals, including the hairless mouse-a species whose use simplifies the procedure of skin testing. In this paper, we report new data that confirms the predictive ability of the test. Following the application of 10 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene; 3-methylcholanthrene; benzo[a]pyrene; dibenz[a,h]anthracene; benz[a]anthracene; dibenz[a,c]anthracene; chrysene; benzo[e]pyrene; pyrene; anthracene) with various degrees of genotoxicity to the dorsal skin of hairless mice, we found that these compounds caused MN production that in general correlated with their reported carcinogenicity. We believe that this test will be useful in detecting skin clastogens that test negative when analyzed using the standard micronucleus test.     

The induction of sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells by K-region epoxides and some dihydrodiols derived from benz[a]anthracene, dibenz[a,c]anthracene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene

Experiments were performed to investigate the effects of 3 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benz[a]anthracene, dibenz[a,c]anthracene and dibenz[a,h]anthracene and K-regio epoxides and some of their related dihydrodiols on the chromosomes of Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro. Of the 3 hydrocarbons only benz[a]anthracene showed any activity in inducing sister-chromatid exchanges. The K-region epoxide and the 3,4-dihydrodiol have been found to be more active than the corresponding K-region or the other non K-region dihydrodiols derived from benz[a]anthracene. Athough dibenz[a,c]anthracene was almost inactive, the K-region 5,6-epoxide and all 3 possible dihydrodiols, the 1,2-, 3,4- and 10,11-diols were active in inducing increased numbers of sister-chromatid exchanges in the chromosomes of these cells. The 3,4-dihydrodiol of dibenz[a,h]anthrecene was also active in inducing sister-chromatid exchanges whereas the 1,2- and 5,6-dihydrodiols were only weakly active. This study provides some support for the suggestiion that the activation of these 3 hydrocarbons proceeds by the metabolic conversion of non K-region dihydrodiols into vicinal diol-epoxides.     

Epoxy derivatives of aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons. The preparation of benz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide and 10,11-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide and their metabolism by rat liver preparations

The syntheses of 10,11-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide, benz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide and 9-hydroxybenz[a]anthracene are described, together with those of a number of related compounds. The epoxides react both chemically and enzymically with water to yield the corresponding dihydrodiols and with reduced glutathione to form glutathione conjugates, and they react chemically with N-acetylcysteine to yield the corresponding mercapturic acids. 8,9-Dihydro-8,9-dihydroxybenz[a]anthracene, formed enzymically from benz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide, was identical with a dihydrodiol formed when benz[a]anthracene was metabolized by rat liver homogenates. Similarly 10,11-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene 8,9-oxide yielded a dihydrodiol identical with the product formed when 10,11-dihydrobenz[a]anthracene was metabolized.     

The involvement of a non-'bay-region' diol-epoxide in the formation of benz(a)anthracene-DNA adducts in a rat-liver microsomal system

The metabolic activation of benz(a)anthracene was investigated by incubating [³H]-benz(a)anthracene with DNA, a NADPH-generating system and rat-liver microsomes. When hydrolysates of the DNA were chromatographed on Sephadex LH20 columns, three hydrocarbon-nucleoside adduct peaks were resolved and these were further examined using HPLC. One adduct probably results from the reaction of the non-bay-region diol-epoxide $\text{r}$-8,$\text{t}$-9-dihydroxy-$\text{t}$-10,11-oxy-8,9,10,11-tetrahydrobenz(a)anthracene $\text{(}\text{anti}$-BA-8,9-diol 10,11-oxide) with DNA. The other two adducts did not co-chromatograph with adducts formed from any of the four possible isomeric diolepoxides that can be formed in the 8,9,10,11-ring of benz(a)anthracene.     

Stereoselectivity of microsomal epoxide hydrolase toward diol epoxides and tetrahydroepoxides derived from benz[a]anthracene

We have examined the selectivity of rat liver microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EC 3.3.2.3) toward all of the possible positional isomers of benzo-ring diol epoxides and tetrahydroepoxides of benz[a]anthracene, as well as the 1,2-diol 3,4-epoxides of triphenylene. This set includes compounds with no bay region in the vicinity of the benzo-ring, a bay-region diol group, a bay-region epoxide group, and (for the triphenylene derivatives) both a bay-region diol and a bay-region epoxide. In all cases where both the tetrahydroepoxides and the corresponding diol epoxides were examined, there is a large retarding effect of hydroxyl substitution on the rate of the enzyme-catalyzed hydration. When the tetrahydroepoxides are fair or poor substrates (epoxide group in the 1,2-, 8,9-, or 10,11-position), the additional retardation introduced by adjacent hydroxyl groups causes the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of the corresponding diol epoxides to be insignificantly slow or nonexistent. In contrast, a benz[a]anthracene derivative with an epoxide group in the 3,4-position, (-)-tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracene (3R,4S)-epoxide, has been identified as the best substrate known for epoxide hydrolase, with a Vmax at 37 degrees C and pH 8.4 of 6800 nmol/min/mg of protein, and the two diastereomeric (+/-)-benz[a]anthracene 1,2-diol 3,4-epoxides, unlike all the other diol epoxides examined to date, are moderately good substrates for epoxide hydrolase. This novel observation is accounted for by the fact that the very high reactivity of the tetrahydrobenz[a]anthracene 3,4-epoxide system towards epoxide hydrolase is large enough to overcome a kinetically unfavorable effect of hydroxyl substitution. The enantioselectivity and positional selectivity of the enzyme have been determined for the tetrahydro-1,2- and -3,4-epoxides of benz[a]anthracene as well as the 1,2-diol 3,4-epoxides. When the epoxide is located in the 3,4-position, the benzylic carbon is the preferred site of attack, whereas for the enantiomers of the bay-region tetrahydro-1,2-epoxides, the chemically less reactive non-benzylic carbon is preferred. The regio- and enantioselectivity of epoxide hydrolase are discussed in terms of a possible model for the hydrophobic binding site of this enzyme.