Fluorescence study of DNA-complexes formed after metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene derivatives

Benzo(a)pyrene derivatives (1-, 2-, 3-, 7-, and 9-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene and trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-, -4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxy-, and -7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene) were metabolized by liver microsomes isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats in the presence of calf thymus DNA. The isolated DNA was then assayed by fluorescence for bound metabolic products. Only 2-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene, 9-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene and trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene yielded detectable amounts of DNA-bound products. In contrast to the product(s) from 9-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene, the metabolites of 2-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene and trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene, both strong carcinogens, had similar excitation spectra and gave considerably increased fluorescence intensities when the DNA was denatured. These data indicate structural similarities in the DNA complexes formed after metabolic activation of 2-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene and trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene.