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The trypsin fragments of rat liver microsomal cytochron1e b\(_5\) (Tb\(_5\)) lack both methionine (met) and cysteine (cys), i.e., the sulphur-containing antino acids. Tb\(_5\) should therefore contain no 358-radioactivity after isolation from animals treated wHh [\(^{35}\)S]met or [\(^{36}\)S]cys. If, however, the nucleic acids coding for this polypeptide have been damaged by a genotoxic carcinogen, a miscoding could result in an incorporation of met or cys into the polypeptide so that Tb\(_8\) could now be \(^{36}\)S-radiolabelled. Two experiments are descrihed. the first one where a toxic regimen of N -nitrosomorpholine (NNM) to rats resulted in a significant increase of \(^{35}\)S-radioactivity in the Tbs of liver microsomes, and a second experiment with a non-toxic regimen of N,N diethylnitrosamine (DENA), where no increase was observable.
The extent of formation of N-nitrosodimethylaminc {NDMA) in the stomachs of rats and mice after sirnultancous oral administration of [\(^{14}\)C]dimethylamine and potassium nitrite was determined by measuring the methylation of liver DNA. With doses of around 1 mg dimethylamine hydrochloride/ kg body weight and 50 mg potassium nitrite/kg body weight. 0,8 % of the amine was nitrosated on average. The individual fluctuations ranged from 0.2 to 1.30% in the rat and from 0.2 to 1.9% in the mouse. Simultaneous administration of 50 mg sodium ascorbate (vitamin Cl/kg body weight inhibited the nitrosation by ahout 80% while 50 mg \(\alpha\)-tocopherol acetate [Vitamin E)/kg body weight reduced the nitrosation by about a half. Assuming similar kinctics and conditions of nitrosation in rats and man. a comparison of the formation of NDMA in vivo from dietary dimethylamine and nitrite with the estimated human uptake of preformed N DMA revealed that in vitro formation in the stomach of man is probably negligible.
The aim of this study was to determine whether o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile ( CS) exhibits any genotoxic activity towards Salmonella or mammalian DNA in vivo. CS was synthesized with a [\(^{14}\)C]-label at the benzylic carbon atom. It was administered i. p. at a dose level of 13 mg/kg (1 mCi/kg) to young adult male rats. Liverand kidney DNA was isolated after 8, 25, and 75 h. The radioactivity was at (liver, 8 and 75 h) or below (all other samples) the limit of detection of 3 dpm. Therefore, a possible binding of CS to DNA is at least 10\(^5\) times lower than that of the strong hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B1, and 4,000 times lower than that of vinyl chloride. In contrast to this lack of DNA binding, but in agreement with the chemical reactivity of CS, a binding to nuclear proteins could be detected with specific activities ranging between 50 and 121 dpm/mg for liver and between 3 and 41 dpm/mg for kidney. Protein binding could well be responsible for its pronounced cytotoxic effects. Cs was also tested in the Ames Salmonella/microsome assay. Strains TA 1535, TA 1537, TA 1538, TA 98, and TA 100 were used with or without pre-incubation. Only with strain TA 100 and only without pre-incubation, a doubling of the number of revertants was detectable at the highest dose Ievels used, 1,000 and 2,000 !lg CS per plate. With pre-incubation of TA 100 with CS, a slight increase of the number of revertants was seen at 100 and 500 !lg per plate, and a subsequent fall below control values at 1,000 J.tg. A check for the number of surviving bacteria revealed a strong bacteriotoxicity of the higher doses of es so that the calculated mutation frequencies, i.e., the oumber of revertants per number of surviving bacteria, increased with doses up to 500 !J.g. This toxicity could be counteracted in part by the addition of increasing amounts of rat liver microsomes. In the view of these results, and taking into account the rare and low exposure of man, it is concluded that CS will not create a risk for the induction of point mutations or of carcinogenic processes mediated by DNA binding.
Lack of covalent binding to rat liver DNA of the hypolipidemic drugs clofibrate and fenofibrate
(1981)
\(^{14}\)C-Labelled clofibric acid and fenofibric acid were administered p.o. to 200 g male and female rats. After 10 h, liver nuclear DNA and protein were isolated and the radioactivity was determined. Binding to protein was clearly measurable whereas no binding to DNA could be detected from any drug. A comparison of the Iimit of detection of such DNA binding with well-known chemical carcinogens revealed that the known hepatocarcinogenicity of clofibrate cannot be based upon an initiating, DNA damaging, mode of action but must be due to other, nongenotoxic, mechanisms such as peroxisome proliferation, hepatomegaly, or cytotoxicity due to protein binding. The risk assessment in man and the interpretation of the carcinogenicity data for rodents are discussed.
[\(^{14}\)C] Aflatoxin B\(_1\) (AFB\(_1\)) was isolated from cultures of Aspergillus parasiticus grown on [1-\(^{114}\)C] sodium acetate. Covalent binding of AFB1 to liver DNA of rat and mouse was determined 6-8 h afteroral administration. The effectiveness of covalent binding, expressedas DNA binding per dose in the units of a 'Covalent Binding Index' (CBI), (\(\mu\)mol aflatoxin/mol DNA nucleotides)/(mmol aflatoxin/kg animal), was found to be 10 400 for rats and 240 for mice. These CBI partly explain the different susceptibility of the two species for the incidence of hepatic tumors. The corresponding values for pig liver DN A, 24 and 48 h after oral administration, were found to be as high as 19 100 and 13 300. DNA-binding has not so far been reported for this species although it could represent an appropriate animal model for studies where a human-like gastrointestinal tract physiology is desirable. Aflatoxin M \(_1\) ( AFM\(_1\)) is a metabolite found in the milk of cows that have been fed AFB\(_1\)-contaminated diet. [\(^{14}\)C] AFM\(_1\) was also found to be produced by cultures of A. parasiticus giving a yield of about 0.3% of the total aflatoxins. A test for covalent binding to rat liver DN A revealed a CBI of 2100 shoWing that AFM\(_1\) must also be regarded as a strong hepatocarcinogen. It is concluded that AFB\(_1\) contaminations should be avoided in dairy feed.
In vivo covalent binding of aflatoxin metabolites isolated from animal tissue to rat-liver DNA
(1980)
Ring-labelled [\(^{14}\)C)aflatoxin B\(_1\) (AFB\(_1\)), prepared by biosynthesis. or generally labelled [\(^3\)H]AFB\(_1\) was administered by oral gavage to young adult male rats. After 6 hr. the liver was removed and two fractions were isolated, namely macromolecules, which contamed about 3 % of the initial dose of AFB\(_1\) radioactivity. and water-soluble, low-molecular aftatoxin conjugates containing about0·2% of the administered radioactivity. These two fractions were administered orally to other rats in order to determine the potential of radioactive aftatoxin residues for covalent binding to DNA. Such binding can be used as an indicator for carcinogenic potency. Liver DNA was isolated 9-12 hr after admmistration of the aflatoxin derivatives and in no case was any radioactivity detected on the DNA. It can be deduced on the basis of the limit of detection of radioactivity on the DNA, that macromolecule bound AFB\(_1\) derivatives are at least 4000 times less active than AFB\(_1\) with respect to covalent binding to rat-liver DNA. and that the water-soluble conjugates are at least 100 times less potent than AFB, itself. It is concluded that the carcinogenic risk for humans who consume liver or meat. containing such aflatoxin residues is negligible when compared with the risk from intake of aftatoxins in other food items.
Groups of four adult male rats [ZUR:SIV -Z] were pretreated with corn oil (control; 2 ml/kg/day i. p. for 3 days), trans-stilbene-oxide (SO; 200 mg/kg/day i. p. for 2 days), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; 10 \(\mu\)g/kg i. p. once, 4 days before killing), phenobarbital (PB; 1 gjliter in the drinking water for 8 days), and dieldrin (20 mg/kg/day i. p. for 3 or 9 days). They received an injection of [G-\(^3\)H]benzo(a)pyrene (BaP, 31 \(\mu\)g/kg, 7.4. 10\(^9\) dpm/kg; i. v.) 16 h before killing. In the liver of each rat, five enzymatic activities and the covalent binding of BaP to DNA have been determined. The rnicrosomal aryl hydrocarbon monooxygenase activity (AHM) ranged frorn 75% of control (SO) to 356% (TCDD), the nuclear AHM from 63% (SO) to 333% (TCDD). Microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity (EH) was induced up to 238% (PB), nuclear EH ranged from 86% (TCDD) to 218% (PB). A different extent of induction was observed in the two compartments. Highest induction of glutathione S-epoxide transferase activity (GST) was found with PB (202%). The DNA binding of BaP was modulated within 79% (dieldrin, 9 days) and 238% of control (TCDD). An enzyme digest of control DNA was analysed by Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Multiple linear regression analysis with all data expressedas o/o of control yielded the following equation: DNA Binding = 1.49 · Microsomal AHM- 1.07 · Nuclear AHM+ 0.33 · Microsomal EH- 0.52 · N uclear EH+ 0.11 · Cytoplasmic GST + 58.2. From this analysis it is concluded that (1) AHM located in the endoplasmic reticulum is most important in the formation of DNA-binding metabolites, (2) EH in the same compar.tment is not determinative in thls respect nor has it a protective effect, (3) both membrane-bound enzyme activities located in the nucleus may inactivate potential ultimate carcinogens, and ( 4) cytoplasmic GST probably cannot reduce DNA binding due to its subcellular localization.
The covalent binding of chemical carcinogens to DNA of mammalian organs is expressed per unit dose, and a 'Covalent-Binding Index', CBI, is defined. CBI for various carcinogens span over 6 orders of magnitude. A similar range is observed for the carcinogenic potency in long-term bioassays on carcinogenicity. For the assessment of a risk from exposure to a carcinogen, the total DN A darnage can be estimated if the actual dose is also accounted for. A detailed description is given for planning and performing a DNA-binding assay. A complete literature survey on DNA binding in vivo (83 compounds) is given with a calculation of CBI, where possible, 153 compounds are listed where a covalent binding to any biological macromolecule has been shown in vivo or in vitro. Recent, so far unpublished findings with aflatoxin Mh macromolecule- bound aflatoxin Bh ·diethylstilbestrol, and 1,2-epithiobutyronitrile are included. A comparison of CBI for rat-liver DNA with hepatocarcinogenic potency reveals a surprisingly good quantitative correlation. Refinements for a DN A-binding assay are proposed. Possibilities and Iimitations in the use of D NA binding in chemical carcinogenesis are discussed extensively.
The covalent binding of tritiated benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to DNA has been determined in rat liver in vivo, in rat liver perfused in situ, after incubation of BP with liver single cells, with liver homogenate, with liver microsomes and DNA, with fibroblasts from a rat granulorna pouch, and with · 2 cell lines. Li ver single cells were found to be a valuable compromise between the rnost sensitive system (microsomal incubation of BP with DNA) and the biologically most relevant system (in vivo ).
Chemieals that induce cancer in an intact organism are called carcinogens. This term does not differentiale between their various modes of action. In this review, Werner Lutz and Peter Maier make a mechanistic distinction between carcinogens that alter the genetic information and carcinogens that interfere with epigenetic processes. They considercardnogenesis tobe an ongoing, part1y unavoidable process which is based on a succession of mutations, most likely in stem cells, leading to autonomaus cellular growth regulation. Chemical carcinogens either induce such changes through mutations (genotoxic carcinogens) or they aceeierate the accumulation of critica1 spontaneaus mut11tions (epigenetic carcinogens). Examples are given for both classes of carcinogens, and for the processes that act at genoto:tic/nuclear 11nd epigenetic/mitotic Ievels.
DNA binding in vivo: (6,7-\(^3\)H]ß-trenbolone (ß-TBOH) was administered p.o. and i.p. to rats. After 8 or 16 h, DNA was isolated from the livers and purified to constant specific radioactivity. Enzymatic digestion to deoxyribonucleotides and separation by HPLC revealed about 90% ofthe DNA radioactivity eluting in the form of possible TBOH-nucleotide adducts. The extent of this genotoxicity, expressed in units of the Covalent Binding Index, CBI = (~mol TBOH bound per mol nucleotide)/(mmol TBOH administered per kg body weight) spanned from 8 t~ 17, i. e. was in the range found with weak genotoxic carcmogens. Ames test: low doses of ß-TBOH increased the number of revertants in Salmonella strain TAl 00 reproducibly and m a dose-dependent manner. The mutagenic potency was 0.2 revertants per nmol after preincubation of the bacteria (20 min at 37° C) with doses between 30 and 60 \(\mu\)g per plate (47 and 94 \(\mu\)g/ml preincubation mixture). Above this dose, the number of revertants decreased to control values, accompanied by a reduction in survival. The addition of rat liver S9 inhibited the mutagenicity. DNA binding in vitro: calf thymus DNA was incubated with tritiated ß-TBOH with and without rat liver S9 Highest DNA radioactivities were determined in the absence of the "activation" system. Addition of inactive S9 (without cofactors) reduced the DNA binding by a factor of up to 20. Intermediate results were found with active S9. DNA binding in Salmonella: ß-TBOH was irreversibly bound to DNA isolated from S. typhimurium TA100 after incubation of bacteria with [\(^3\)H]ß-TBOH. Conclusions: Covalent DNA binding appears to be the mechanism of an activation-independent ("direct") mutagenicity of TBOH which is not easily detected because of the bactericidal activity. The genotoxicity risk arising from exposure of humans to trenbolone residues in meat was estimated using the in vivo data and compared to that from the exposure to unavoidable genotoxins aflatoxin B1 and dimethylnitrosamine. It ts concluded that trenbolone residues represent only a low genotoxic risk.
In order to investigate whether the Stimulation of liver DNA synthesis might be used to detect one class of hepatic tumor promoters, the incorporation of orally administered radiolabelled thymidine into liver DNA was detennined in rats and mice 24 h after a single oral gavage of test compounds at various dose Ievels. Three DNA-binding hepatocarcinogens, aflatoxin B1; benzidine and carbon tetrachloride, did not stimulate but rather inhibited DNA synthesis (not for CCla). Four hepatic tumor promoters, clofibrate, DDT, phenobarbital and thioacetamide, gave rise to a Stimulation in a dosedependent manner. Single oral doses between 0.02 and 0.3 mmol/kg were required to double the level of thymidine incorporation into liver DNA (= doubling dose, DD). Differentes between species or sex as obsprved in long-term carcinogenicity studies were reflected by a different stimulation of liver DNA synthesis. In agreement with the bioassay data, aldrin was positive only in male mice (DD = 0.007 mmol/kg) but not in male rats or female mice. 2,3, 7,8-TCDD was positive in male mice (DD = 10\(^{-6}\) mmol/kg) andin female rats (DD = 2 x 10\(^{-6}\) mmol/kg) but not in male rats. The assay was also able to distinguish between structural isomers with different carcinogenicities. [alpha]Hexachlorocyclohexane stimulated Iiver DNA synthesis with a doubling dose of about 0.2 mmol/kg in male rats whereas the [gamma]isomer was ineffective even at l mmol/kg. So far, only one result was inconsistent with carcinogenicity bioassay data. The different carcinogenicity of di(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (negative in rats) and di(2-ethylhe.xyl)phthalate (positive) was not detectable. 8oth plasticizers were positive in.this short-term system with DD's of 0. 7 mmol/kg for DEHA and 0.5 mmol/kg for DEHP. The proposed assay is discussed as an attempt to devise short-term assays for carcinogens not detected by the routine genotoxicity test systems.
Emodin (1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone), an important aglycone found in natural anthraquinone glycosides frequently used in Iaxative drugs, was mutagenic in the Salmonellajmammalian microsome assay (Ames test) with a specificity for strain TA1537. The mutagenic activity was activationdependent with an optimal amount of S9 from Aroclor 1254-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats of 20% in the S9 mix (v jv) for 10 p.g emodin per plate. Heat inactivation of the S9 for 30 min at 60 ° C prevented mutagenicity. The addition of the cytochrome P-448 inhibitor 7,8-benzoflavone (18.5 nmoles per plate) reduced the mutagenic activity of 5.0 p.g emodin per plate to about one third, whereas the P-450 inhibitor metyrapone (up to 1850 nmoles per plate) was without effect. To test whether a metabolite" binds covalently to Salmonella DNA, [10-\(^{14}\)C]emodin was radiosynthesized, large batches of bacteria were incubated with [10-\(^{14}\)C]emodin and DNA was isolated. [G- \(^{3}\)H]Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was used as a positive control mutagen known to act via DNA binding. DNA obtained after aflatoxin treatment could be purified to constant specific activity. With emodin, the specific activity of DNA did not remain constant after repeated precipitations so that it is unlikely that the mutagenicity of emodin is due to covalent interaction of a metabolite with DNA. The antioxidants vitamin C and E or glutathione did not reduce the mutagenicity. Emodin was also negative with strain TA102. Thus, oxygen radicals are probably not involved. When emodin was incubated with S9 alone for up to 50 h before heat-inactivation of the enzymes and addition of bacteria, the mutagenic activity did not decrease. It is concluded that the mutagenicity of emodin is due to a chemically stable, oxidized metabolite forming physico-chemical associations with DNA, possibly of the intercalative type. In order to check whether an intact mammalian organism might be able to activate emodin to a DNA-binding metabolite, radiolabelled emodin was administered by oral gavage to male SD rats and liver DNA was isolated after 72 h. Very little radioactivity was associated with the DNA. Considering that DNA radioactivity could also be due to sources other than covalent interactions, an upper limit for the · covalent binding index, CBI = (p.moles chemical bound per moles DNA nucleotides)/(mmoles chemical administered per kg body weight) of 0.5 is deduced. This is 104 times below the CBI of AFB1. The demonstration of a lack of covalent interaction with DNA bothin Salmonellaandin rat liver is discussed in terms of a reduced hazard posed by emodin as a mutagenic drug in use in humans.
A literature review has shown that the daily intakes of various N -nitroso-precursor classes in a typical European diet span five orders of magnitude. Amides in the form of protein, and guanidines in the form of creatine and creatinine, are the nitrosatable groups found most abundantly in the diet, approaching Ievels of 100 g/day and 1 gjday, respectively. Approximately 100 mg of primary amines and amino acids are consumed daily, whereas aryl amines, secondary amines and ureas appear to lie in the 1-10 mg range. The ease of nitrosation of each precursor was estimated, the reactivities being found to span seven orders of magnitude, with ureas at the top and amines at the bottom of the scale. From this infonnation and an assessment of the carcinogenicity of the resulting N-nitroso derivatives, the potential health risk due to gastric in vivo nitrosation was calculated. The combined effects of these risk variables were analysed using a simple mathematical model: Risk = [daily intake of precursor] x [gastric concentration of nitrite]\(^n\) x [nitrosatability rate constant} x [carcinogenicity of derivative]. The risk estimates for the various dietary components spanned nine orders of magnitude. Dietary ureas and aromatic amines combined with a high nitrite burden could pose as great a risk as the intake of preformed dimethylnitrosamine in the diet. In contrast, the risk posed by the in vivo nitrosation of primary and secondary amines is probably negligib1y small. The risk contribution by amides (including protein), guanidines and primary amino acids is intermediate between these two extremes. Thus three priorities for future work are a comprehensive study of the sources and Ievels of arylamines and ureas in the diet, determination of the carcinogenic potencies of key nitrosated products to replace the necessarily vague categories used so far, and the development of short-term in situ tests for studying the alkylating power or genotoxicity of N-nitroso compounds too unstable for inclusion in long-term studies.
To date, all risk assessment studies on benzene have been based almost exclusively on epiderniological data. Wehave attempted a more integrated and quantitative evaluation of carcinogenic risk for hurnans, trying to utilize, in addition to the epidemiological data, all data available, specifically data on metabolism, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity in small rodents. An integrated evaluation of the globality of the available data seems to suggest a progressive saturation of metabolic capacity both for man and rodents between 10 and 100 ppm. The most susceptible target cells seem tobe different in humans (predominant induction of myelogenous leukemia) and small rodents (induction of a wide variety of tumors). Nevertheless, both epidemiological and experimental carcinogenicity data tend to indicate a flattening ofthe response for the highest dosages, again suggesting a general Saturation of mechanisms of metabolic activation, extended to different target tissues. From a quantitative point of view, the data suggest a carcinogenic potency at 10 ppm two to three times higher than that computable by a linear extrapolation from data in the 100 ppm range. These observations are in accord with the recent proposal of the European Economic Community of reducing benzene time-weighted average occupationallevels from 10 to 5 ppm.
Metallothionein (MT) is a protein which contains 20 cysteine residues but no aromatic amino acids. It was tested whether treatment of male rats with the hepatocarcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DENA) could ethylate nucleic acids in such a way that protein variants containing measurable amounts of aromatic amino acid residues could be isolated from the livers of treated animals. To give a low Iimit of detection, the "wrong" amino acid precursors were administered in radiolabelled form at high Ievels of activity (7 mCi/kg each of [\(^3\)H]tyrosine and [\(^3\)H]phenylalanine). 11 \(\mu\)Ci/kg [\(^{14}\)C]cysteine was given as an intemal marker for MT biosynthesis. 6 h after amino acid administration, metallothionein (MT) was isolated from the liver and extensively purified. Afteracid hydrolysis and collection of Cys, Tyr, and Phe from an HPLC analysis of the amino acids, the \(^3\)H/\(^{14}\)C ratio was determined. The carcinogen-treated rats exhibited a significantly higher ratio than the vehicle-treated animals. This type of in vivo assay might find interesting applications in the investigation of nucleic acid alkylations as promutagenic lesions.
It was the aim of this investigation to determine whether or not covalent binding of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) to rat liver DNA could be a mechanism of action contributing to the observed induction of liver tumors after lifetime feeding of rodents with high doses of DEHP. DEHP radiolabeled in different positionswas administered orally to female F344 rats with or without pretreatment for 4 weeks with 1% unlabeled DEHP in the diet. Livu DNA was isolated after 16 hr and analyzed for radioattivity. Administration of [\(^{14}\)C]carboxylate unabeled DEHP resulted in no measurable DNA radioactivity. With DEHP [\(^{14}\)C]· and [\(^{3}\)H]. labeled in the alcohol moiety as well as with 2-ethyl[1-\(^{14}\)C]hexanol, radioactivity was clearly measurable in the DNA. HPLC analysis of enzyme-degraded DNA relvealed that the normal nucleosides had incorporated radiolabel whereas no radioactivity was detectable in those fractions where the carcinogen-modified nucleoside adducts are expected. A quantitative evaluation of the negative data in terms of a Iimit of detection for a covalent binding Index (CBJ) indicates that covalent interaction with DNA is highly unlikely to be the mode of tumorigenic action of DEHP in rodents.
Investigation of covalent DNA binding in vivo provided evidence for whether a test substance can be activated to metabolites able to reach and react with DNA in an intact organism. Fora comparison of DNA binding potencies of various compounds tested under different conditions, a normalization of the DNA lesion with respect to the dose is useful. A covalent binding index, CBI = (\(\mu\)mol chemical bound per mol DNA nucleotide )/(mmol chemical administered per kg body weight) can be determined for each compound. Whether covalent DNA binding results in tumor formation is dependent upon additional factors specific to the cell type. Thus far, all compounds which bind covalently to liver DNA in vivo have also proven tobe carcinogenic in a long-term study, although the liver was not necessarily the target organ for tumor growth. With appropriate techniques, DNA binding can be determined in a dose range which may be many orders of magnitude below the dose Ievels required for significant tumor induction in a long-term bioassay. Rat liver DNA bindingwas proportional to the dose of aflatoxin B1 afteroral administration of a dose between 100 \(\mu\)g/kg and 1 ng/kg. The lowest dose was in the range of generat human daily exposures. Demonstration of a lack of liver DNA binding (CBI<0.1) in vivo for a carcinogenic, nonmutagenic compound is a strong indication for an indirect mechanism of carcinogenic action. Carcinogens of this class do not directly produce a change in gene structure or function but disturb a critical biochemical control mechanism, such as protection from oxygen radicals, control of cell division, etc. Ultimately, genetic changes are produced indirectly or accumulate from endogenaus genotoxic agents. The question of why compounds which act via indirect mechanisms are more likely to exhibitanonlinear rangein the dose-response curve as opposed to the directly genotoxic agents or processes is discussed.
Formaldehydeis an electrophilic molecule able to crosslink DNA and protein. It has been found to induce tumors in the nasal epithelium in rodents. The safety margin between the maximum tolerated FA concentration in the work place and the concentration found to be tumorigenic in animal studies is very small. Because FA is produced endogenously as a result of a variety of oxidative demethylations, the assessment of the tumor risk from exogenaus FA exposure has tobe related quantitatively to the level of DNA-protein crosslinks induced by endogenaus FA generation. It is reported here that the high level of endogenaus FA formed in the liver after a large dose of methanol or of aminopyrine did not lead to any observable increase in DNA-protein crosslinks. Using positive and negative control data from in vitro incubations of liver homogenate with FA or methanol it is estimated that the endogenous level of DNA damage in the liver must be more than three orders of magnitude below the damage observed at tumorigenic concentrations for the rat nose. The fact that FA is formed endogenously cannot, therefore, be used to claim that exogenous FA merely leads to a negligible increase in DNA damage.
The lnfluence of mlcrosomal and nuclear aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) actlvlty on the covalent blndlng of [G·3H]benzo(a )pyrene to rat llver DNA was evaluated in viWJ. lnductlon of mlcrosomal AHH was obtalned alter phenobarbltal treatment (160% of control), whlch also lncreased DNA blndlng to 190%, but left the nuclear actlvlty unchanged. Nuclear AHH was lnduced wlth dleldrln (150%), and the blndlng was decreased to 75%, whereaa the mlcrosomal AHH was at control Ievei. The lncreaslng effect of mlcrosomal AHH lnductlon as weil as the decreaslng effect of nuclear AHH lnductlon on the blndlng was shown clearly when the data of the Individual rata were uaed to solve the equatlon Binding = e•(mlcroeomal AHH) + b•(nuclear AHH) + c Multiple linear regresslon analysls wlth the data from 10 anlmala reaulted ln positive valuea for a and c, a negative value for b, and a good multiple correlatlon coefflclent of r = 0.974. Pretreatment wlth 3-methylcholanthrene ln· duced mlcrosomal AHH to 380% of control and nuclear AHH to 590% and lncreased the blndlng' to 175,.-o. The blndlng was hlgher than predlcted by the formula found, probably because the lncreaslng lnfluence of lnduced mlcrosomal AHH overahadowed the decreaslng effect of the nuclear AHH. The study ahows clearly that the blndlng of a forelgn compound to DNA in viWJ Ia dependent not only on mlcrosomal enzyme actlvltles but also on nuclear actlvltles even lf the latter are conslderably lower than thoae of mlcrosomes.
Thecovalent bindingof [6,7-\(^3\)H]ethinylestradiol (EE)and [6,7-\(^3\)H]estrone (E) to liver DNA of 200 g female ratswas measured 8 h after the administration of 80 \(\mu\)g (9.2 mCi) estrogen by gavage. The binding is 1.5 for EE and 1.1 for E, expressedas binding to DNA/dose, in units of \(\mu\)mol hormonefmol DNA phosphate/mmole honnone/kg body wt. It is in the same order of magnitude as for benzene and about 10 000 tim es below the binding of typical liver carcinogens, such as aflatoxin B\(_1\) or N,N-dimethylnitrosamine.
Wlth radioactive compound of high specific activity, the binding of carcinogene to DNA can be measured wlth doses that are ineffective ln long-term studies. The binding of tritiated benzo(a )pyrene to liver DNA of adult male rats has been determined 50 hr after a singie l.p. injection of doses between 40 1'9/kg and 4 mg/kg. The doseresponse relationship is linear up to 1 mg/kg, shows a step towards 2 mg/kg, and gives a shallow linear slope above that value. The observed binding ranges from 1.7 to 180 nmoles benzo(a)pyrene per mole DNA phosphate. The nonlinearity could be due to an induction of metabolizing enzymes. The microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity increases significantly 24 hr after a single dose of 4 mg/kg and 48 hr after doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg, but no induction Ia found with 1 mg/kg. The binding from an equimolar dose is 35 times lower than the one found on mouse skin DNA and 300 times lower than that of N,Ndlmethylnitrosamine in rat liver. A good correlatlon exiats to the respective tumor formation in long-term studles.
Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) has been measured in male rat Jiver nucJei and microsomes after treatment of adult animals with various inducers for up to 14 days. After daily i.p. injections of 3-methylcholanthrene (MC, 20 mg/kg) the nuclear activity increased to a maximum of 600 per cent of the control activity after 4 days whereas the microsomal activity was 400 per cent of control at the same date. After 12 days, both activities equilibrated at 400 per cent. A similar time course was found after a single i.p. injection of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, 0.01 mg/kg) with an induction to .500 and 300 per cent for nuclei and microsomes, respectiveJy. after 2 days, and to 400 per cent for both after 12 days. PhenobarbitaJ (PB) was given continuously in the drinking water (I g/1) and induced the microsomal activity to 200 per cent after 8 days and 170 per cent after 14 days. The nuclear activity was only slightly induced to a constant Ievei of 130 per cent between day 8 and 14. Dieldrin did not significantly increase the microsomal activity after daiJy i.p. injections (20 mg/kg), but the nuclear activity raised to 200 per cent after 3 days and levelled down tocontrol valuesafter 12 days. Other inducers tested were benz[a)anthracene (BA), hexachlorobenzene (HCB} and 1,1.1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). The induction pattern with BA was similar tothat of MC, a modeJ compound for the group of cytochrome P448 inducers. The induction by HCB and DDT resembled that by PB. a typical cytochrome P450 inducer.
The thermodynainic parameters ΔH0, ΔG0 and ΔS0 - and thereby the equilibrium constants - for the complexation of the carrier antibiotics nigericin and monensin with sodium and potassium ions in methanol at 25°C have been determined by microcalorimetry. Tbc results are discussed in terms of the nature of the interaction between ligands and cations.
The detection Iimit of the lacl transgenic mouse mutagenicity assay lies, in practice, at approximately a 50-100% increase in mutant frequency in treated animals over controls. The sensitivity of this assay in detecting genotoxins can be markedly improved by subchronic rather than acute application of the test compound. The lac/ transgenic mouse mutagenicity assay was compared quantitatively to rodent carcinogenicity tests and to presently used in vivo mutagenicity assays. With the genotoxic carcinogens tested thus far, a rough correlation between mutagenic potency and carcinogenic potency was observed: on average, to obtain a doubling in lacl mutant frequency the mice bad to be treated with a total dose equal to 50 times the TD50 daily dose Ievel. This total dose could be administered eilher at a high dose rate within a few days or, preferably, at a low dose rate over several weeks. This analysis also indicated that a lacl experiment using a 250-day exposure period would give a detection Iimit approximately equal to that of a long-term carcinogenicity study. In comparison to the micronucleus test or the chromosome aberration assay, acute sturlies with the presently available lacl system offered no increase in sensitivity. However, subchronic lacl sturlies (3-4-month exposure) resulted in an increase in sensitivity over the established tests by 1-2 orders of magnitude (shown with 2-acetylaminofluorene, N-nitrosomethylamine, N-nitrosomethylurea and urethane). 1t is concluded that a positive result in the lacl test can be highly predictive of carcinogenicity butthat a negative result does not provide a large margin of safety.
In the inhalation system described an animal can be kept in the same atmosphere of a 2-liter desiccator for up to 24 h. The expired carbon dioxide is adsorbed with soda lime and the resulting reduced pressure is balanced by a supply of oxygen also used for the inflow of the chemical to be investigated. Urine and faeces can be collected ~eparately and the system allows a periodical control of the concentration of the chemical by sampling the air with needle and syringe.
The binding of tritiated benzo(a)pyrene (BP) to liver DNA of 25 adult male rats (SIV 50) has been determined 50 h after a single intraperitoneal injection of doses between 40 ug/kg and 4; mg/kg. The dose-response relations~ ip is linear up to i mg/kg, shows a sigmoid step towards 2 mg/kg and a shallow linear. slope above that value. TlJe 0 bserved bin ding ranges from 1.7 to 180 nmoles BP per mole DNA phosphate. The non-linearity between 1 and 2 mg/kg could be explained 0):1 the basis of an induction of metabolizing enzymes. A pure1y mathematical extrapolation of therumour incidence from a carcinogenic dose (1 x 40mg/kg for a 20% hepatoma incidence in newborn mice) to human exposure levels (aboilt 0.1 ug/kg per day) would never have followed a step like the on~ found in our experiments. Our dose-effect study therefore shows how carcinogenitity data could be extrapolated in a biologically founded way to low doses.
The potential health risk posed by the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC) from nitrosation of dietary ureas, guanidines, amides, amino acids and amanes (primary, secondary and aromatic) was estimated according to the model:
Risk = ( daily intake of precursor] X (gastric concentration of nitrite ]n X [nitrosatability rate constant] X [cilrcinogenicity of derivative].
The daily intakes ofthese compound classes span five orders ofmagnitude (100 g/day amides, top; 1-10 mg/day secondary amines, ureas, bottom); the nitrosation rate constants span seven orders of magnitude (aryl amines, ureas, top; amides, secondary amines, bottom); and the carcinogenicity estimates span a 10 000-fold range from 'very strong' to 'virtually noncarcinogenic'. The resulting risk estimates likewise span an enormous range (nine orders of magnitude ): dietary ureas and aromatic amines combined with high nitrite concentration could pose as great a risk as the intake of preformed N-nitrosodimethylamine in the diet. In contrast, the risk posed by the in-vivo nitrosation of primary and secondary amines is probably negligible. The risk contributed by amides (including protein), guanidines and primary amino acids is intermediate between these two extremes.
Nitrosation of dietary components has been combined with the 4-(para-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) colorimetric test for screening alkylating agents and with the Ames test for the detection of mutagenic activity. This allowed the investigation of short-hved nitrosation products of dietary components which generate electrophilic degradation products requiring no metabolic activation (natural amino acids and some derivatives, ureas, guanidines, primary alkyl and aryl amines). In a first system, precursor, nitrous acid and NBP were present simultaneously. All amino acids tested, except glutamic acid and glutamine, gave positive results. The reactivities spanned more than three orders of magnitude, with the aromatic amino acids and methionine the most active; two primary amines, tryptamine and histamine, were also strongly reactive. All guanidines tested, except the amino acid arginine, gave negative results. A second system consisted of two phases: NBP was added only after destruction of residual nitrite and adjustment of the pH to neutrality. This system was useful for the study of ureas, which are stable in acid but not in neutral media. The range of responses covered more than two orders of magnitude. Most amino acids and primary amines also gave positive results, but could be assessed only after analysing the kinetics of the competing reactions and choosing appropriate reaction times. In a third system, Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1OO replaced NBP. Representatives of the class of amino acids, ureas, the primary amine tryptamine, and aniline became higbly mutagenic upon nitrosation. Methylguanidine was only weakly mutagenic under the present assay conditions. The results indicate that further studies with unstable nitrosation products of dietary components are required to understand more thoroughly the role of endogenous nitrosation in gastric cancer.
The diet contains a large number of constituents which can be nitrosated in the gastrointestinal tract (especially in the stomach) to potentially carcinogenic nitroso compounds (NOC). The nitrosation of food mixtures has been investigated with a number of assays, such as chemical analysis or detection of alkylating potential, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. Relatively good information is available on the formation of stable nitrosamines using high nitrite concentrations. Little is known, however, about the formation of chemically unstable NOC at low nitrite concentration and their genotoxicity in target cells. A comparison of the precursor classes, alkylamines, aromatic amines, amino acids, amides and peptides, ureas and guanidines, reveals a vast range, both with respect to daily intake (105-fold) and nitrosation rate (104-fold both for 1st and 2nd order nitrite dependence). A total span of 108 results for the relative yield of NOC in the stomach. The endogenous NOC burden from dietary ureas and aromatic amines may represent as large a hazard as the intake of preformed NOC. Recent evidence also indicates that heterocyclic amines and phenols must be considered and that the half-life of nitrosated a-amino acids can be much longer than that of nitrosated primary alkylamines. In these classes, more information should be collected on dietary concentrations, on the nitrosation under realistic conditions and on the genotoxicity in stomach lining cells. Within a chemical precursor class, a wide range is seen with respect to alkylating potency. It cannot, therefore, be excluded that individual precursors within the top ranking classes might become more important than single preformed NOC. Not considered in the above analysis but probably just as important for a risk evaluation in a population is the knowledge of the nitrosation conditions and target cell susceptibility in individuals.
Male Fischer F-344 rats were given ethanol in the drinking water and/or by single oral administration. Following this, the animals received p.o. 100 ng/kg of the hepatocarcinogen eHJaflatoxin BI (AFBI)' 24 h later, the level of DNA-bound AFBI was determined in the liver and was found not to be affected by any type of ethanol pretreatment. A cocarcinogenic effect of ethanol in the liver is therefore unlikely to be due to an effect on the metabolic activation and inactivation processes governing the formation of DNA-binding AFBI metabolites.
Ich habe versucht darzulegen, daß mechanistische Überlegungen zur Extrapolation der Dosis-WirkungsBeziehung herangezogen werden können. Ein nichtlinearer Verlauf ist nicht nur bei den epigenetischen Kanzerogenen wahrscheinlich, sondern auch bei den DNA-bindenden. Echte Schwellen sind aber nur in solchen Fällen zu erwarten, wo kein endogenes Korrelat besteht. Immerhin können auch steile Nichtlinearitäten zu einer drastischen Risikoreduktion führen, so daß die Anstrengungen dahin gehen sollten, die Steigung und den Bereich des überproportionalen Abfalls experimentell zu zeigen. In einer heterogenen Population kann die 0 0- sis-Wirkungs-Kurve zusätzliche "Wellen" bekommen und wird dadurch grundsätzlich flacher. Im Extremfall ergibt sich eine lineare Dosis-Wirkungs-Beziehung unabhängig vom Wirkmechanismus des Kanzerogens. Diese Proportionalität zwischen tiefster Dosis und Effekt wird bei genotoxischen Kanzerogenen aus mechanistischen Gründen schon für eine homogene Population postuliert, doch kann dies in einer heterogenen Population auch bei epigenetischen Kanzerogenen in Frage kommen.
no abstract available
no abstract available
Many mutagens and carcinogens act via covalent interaction of metabolic intermediates with DNA in the target cell. This report groups those structural elements which are often found to form the basis for a metabolism to such chemically reactive metabolites. ~mpounds which are chemically reactive per se and which do not require metabolic activation form group 1. Group 2 compri~es of olefins and aromatic hydrocarbons where the oxidation via an epoxide can be responsible for the generation of reactive species. Aromatic amines, hydrazines, and nitrosamirres form group 3 requiring an oxidation of a nitrogen atom or of a carbon atom in alpha position to a nitrosated amine. Group 4 compounds are halogenated hydrocarbons which can either give rise to radicals or can form an ·olefin (group 2) upon dehydrohalogenation. Group 5 compounds depend upon some preceding enzymatic activity either not available in the target cell or acting on positions in the molecule which are not directly involved in the subsequent formation of electrophilic atoms. Examples for each group are taken from the "List of Chemieals and Irrdustrial Processes Associated with Cancer in Humans" as compiled by the International Agency for the Research on Cancer, and it is shown that 91% of the organic carcinogens would have been detected on the basis of structural elements characteristic for group 1-5. As opposed to this very high sensitivity, the specificity ( the true negative fraction) of using this approach as a short-term test for carcinogenicity is shown to be bad because detoxification pathways have so far not been taken into account. These competing processes are so complex, however, that either only very extensive knowledge about pharmacokinetics, stability, and reactivity will be required or that in vivo systems have to be used to predict, on a quantitative basis, the darnage expected on the DNA. DNA-binding experiments in vivo are presented with benzene and toluene to demonstrate one possible way for an experimental assessment and it is shown that the detoxification reaction at the methyl group available only in toluene gives rise to a reduction by at least a factor of forty for the binding to rat liver DNA. This quantitative approach available with DNA-binding tests in vivo, also allows evaluation as to whether reactive metabolites and their DNA binding are always the most important single activities contributing to the overall carcinogenicity of a chemical. With the example of the livertumor inducing hexachlorocyclohexane isomers it is shown that situations will be found where reactive metabolites are formed and DNA binding in vivo is measurable but where this activity cannot be the decisive mode of carcinogenic action. It is concluded that the lack of structural elements known to become potentially reactive does not guarantee the lack of a carcinogenic potential.
The covalent binding of [3H]aflatoxin B1 (AF) to liver DNA was determined, 6 h after oral administration to male rabbits. A Covalent Binding Index, CBI (flmol AF/mol DNA-P)/(mmol AF/kg b. w.) = 8,500 was found. Pretreatment of rabbits with AF coupled to bovine serum albumin in Freund's adjuvant led to the production of AF-directed antibodies. Administration of [3H]AF to such immunized rabbits resulted in a CJH of only 2,500, i.e., the iiDJ{.lUnization provided a protection by a factor of more than 3. Although this is encouraging evidence for the potential of active immunization against genotoxic carcinogens, a nurober of pointswill have to be clarified, such as the time course for the DNA binding and the question of a possible shift to other target cells.
The determination of a covalent binding of radioactive chemieals to DNA in intact mammalian organisms is proposedas a short-term test for carcinogenicity. The effectiveness of covalent binding to rat liver DNA correlates well with the hepatocarcinogenicity known from long-term bioassays. The binding indices range over more than five orders of rriagnitude between the strongest hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B 1 and the limit of detection of a binding with 100 f-LCi 14C-labelled chemical. The order of magnitude of binding is therefore a surprisingly good quantitative measure for carcinogenicity. The pattern of DNA binding sites is important especially for small alkylating agents where the determination of total binding might indicate a higher carcinogenic potency than is actually observed.
The influence of microsomal (mAHH) and nuclear (nAHH) aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity on the covalent binding of t:titiated benzo(a)pyrene to rat liver DNA was evaluated in vivo. Induction ofmAHH was obtained after phenobarbitone treatment (180% of control), which increased DNA binding to 210%, but left the nAHH unchanged. mAHH and nAHH were slightly indilced with dieldrin (130% and 120%), but the binding remairred unchanged. The increasing effect of mAHlt as weil as the possibly decreasing effect of nAHH induction on the binding became obvious when the data of 11 individual rats were used to solve the equation Binding = aX(mAHH) + bX(nAHH) + c. Multiple linear regression analysis resulted in positive values for a and c, a negative value for b, and a multiple correlation coefficient R = 0.82. An influence of other enzymes involved in the metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene cannot be excluded. The Study shows clearly that the binding of a foreign compound to DNA in vivo is not only dependent on microsomal enzyme activities but also on nuclear activities even if the latter are considerably lower than those of mic'rosomes.
An improved 32P-postlabelling assay for detection and quantitation of styrene 7,8-oxide-DNA adducts
(1993)
Using DNA modified with [7-3H]styrene 7,8-oxide (SO) in vitro we have standardized the 32P-postlabelling assay for detecting SO-DNA adducts. Nuclease P 1-enriched adducts were 32P-labelled and purified by high-salt ( 4.0 M ammonium formate, pH 6.1} C1s reverse-phase TLC. After elution from the layer with 2-butoxyethanol:H20 (4:6), adducts were separated by two-dimensional PEI cellulose TLC in non-urea solvents (2.0 M ammonium formate, pH 3.5, and 2.7 M sodium phosphate, pH 5.6). One major, three minor and several trace adducts were detected. The efficiency of the kinase reaction depended on the ATP concentration. Use of standard labelling conditions (['Y· 32P]ATP, <3000 Ci/mmol; <2 Mikromol) resulted in poor ( 4-7%) adduct recovery. An ATP concentration of 40 Mikromol, however, increased the labeJling efficiency by a factor of 5-8 (35-55% based on 3H-SO labelied DNA). The results indicate that the new separation technique is suitable for the relatively polar SO-DNA adducts and that high labelling efficiency can be achieved.
[7-3H)Styrene 7,8-oxide was administered by oral gavage to male CD rats at a dose of 1.3 mg/kg. After 4 h, the forestomach was excised, DNA was isolated, purified to constant specific radioactivity and degraded nzymatically to the 3 '-nucleotides. Highperformance liquid chromatography fractions with the normal nucleotides contained most of the radiolabel, but a minute level of adduct label was also detccted. Using the units of the covalent binding index (micromoles adduct per mole DNA nucleotide)/(millimole chemical administered per kilogram body weight), a DNA binding potency of 1.0 was derived. A comparison of the covalent binding indices and carcinogenic potencies of other genotoxic forestarnach carcinogens showed that the tumorigenic activity of styrene oxide is unlikely to be purely genotoxic. Therefore, styrene oxide was compared with 3-tbutylhydroxyanisole (BHA) with respect to stimulation of cell proliferation in the forestomach. Male Fischer 344 rats were treated for four weeks at three dose levels of styrene oxide (0, 137, 275 and 550 mg/kg, three times per week by oral gavage) and BHA (0, 0.5, 1 and 2% in the diet); the highest doses had been reported to result in 84% and 22% carcinomas in the forestomach, respectively. Cell proliferation was assessed by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine into DNA and immunohistochemical analysis. An increase in the lablling indexwas found in a11 treated animals. In the prefundic region of the forestomach, the labeHing index increased significantly, from 42% (controls) to 54% with styrene oxide and from 41 to 55% with BHA. Rats treated with BHA also had severe hyperplastic lesions in the prefundic region, i.e., at the location of BHA-induced forestomach carcinomas. The number of cells per millimetre of section length was increased up to 19 fold. Hyperplastic lesions were not seen with styrene oxide, despite the higher tumour incidence reported with this compound. We conclude that the carcinogenicity of styrene oxide to the forestomach most probably involves a mechanism in which marginal genotoxicity is combined with promotion by increased cell proliferation.
Known mutagens and carcinogens in the dict were compiled and the risk of cancer was estimated on the basis of average exposure Ievels in Switzerland and carcinogenic potencies from rodent bioassays. The analysis showed that, except for a1cohol, the sum of all known dietary carcinogens could only explain a few percent of the cancer deaths attributed by epidemiologists to dietary factors. The discrepancy was explained by a "carcinogenicity" of excess macronutrients. This hypothesis was based on an evaluation of dietary restriction experiments in rats and mice, where a dramatic reducing effect on spontaneaus tumour formation was seen. From these experiments, a "carcinogenic potency" was deduced for food in excess (TD50 approximately 16 g/kg per day). Ovemutrition in Switzerland was converted into excess food intake and the cancer risk estimated on the basis ofthe TD50 value. The resulting risk of60,000 cases per one million lives wou1d aJlow to explain by overnutrition almost all "diet-related" cancer deaths in humans.
Mechanistic possibilitles responsible for nonlinear shapes of the dose-response relationship in chemical carcinogenesis are discussed. (i) Induction and saturation of enzymatic activation and detoxification processes and of DNA repair affect the relationship between dose and steady-state DNA adduct Ievel; (ii) The fixation of DNA adducts in the form of mutations is accelerated by stimulation of the cell division, for Jnstance due to regenerative hyperplasia at cytotoxic dose Ievels; (iii) The rate of tumor formation results from a superposition of the rates of the individual steps. It can become exponential with dose if more than one step is accelerated by the DNA damage exerted by the genotoxic carcinogen. The strongly sigmoidal shapes often observed for dose-tumor incidence relationships in animal bioassays supports this analysis. A power of four for the dose in the su~linear part of the curve is the maximum observed (formaldehyde). In contrast to animal experiments, epidemiological data ln humans rarely show a slgnificant deviation from linearity. The discrepancy might be explained by the fact that a I arge nu mber of genes contribute to the overall sensitivity of an individual and to the respective heterogeneity within the human population. Mechanistic nonlinearities are flattened out in the presence of genetic and life-style factors which affect the sensitivity for the development of cancer. For a risk assessment, linear extrapolation from the high-dose lncidence to the spontaneaus rate can therefore be approprlate in a heterogeneous population even if the mechanism of action would result in a nonlinear shape of the dose-response curve in a homogeneaus population.
Tbe alkylating potency of unstable N-nitrosamino acids and N-nitrosopeptides was investigated in vitro using 4-(para-nitrobenzyl)pyridine (NBP) as nucleophile. Of the amino acids, Met and those with an aromatic side chain were the most potent. The relative overall alkylating potency was 23:10:5:4:2:1: for Trp, Met, His, 1)rr, Phe and Gly, respectively. The homo-dipeptides were much more potent than the amino acids, with relative potencies of 400:110:100:8:3:1, for Trp-Trp, l)T-'I)T, Met-Met, Asp-Asp, Phe-Phe and Gly, respectively. In the one-phase reaction system (in which NBP is already present durlog the nitrosation reaction at acidic pH), all amino acids tested showed a second-order reaction for nitrite. In the two-phase system (in which NBP is added only after bringing the nitrosation reaction mixture to neutrality), all amino acids tested except one again showed a second-order reaction for nitrite (Phe, His, Asp and the dipeptide artiticial sweetener aspartame); only Met under these conditions bad a reaction order of one for nitrite. This could mean that nitrosation of the side chain of Metproduces a second N-nitroso product which is relatively stable in acid but reacts with NBP under neutral conditions. In the human stomach, this side-chain nitrosation might become more important than the reactions at the primary amino group, firstly because of the greater stability of the product(s) in acid and secondly because of the tirst-order reaction rate for nitrite. A decrease in nitrite concentration from the millimolar concentrations ofthe in-vitro assay to the micromolar concentrations in the stomach reduces the reaction rate by a factor of 1000 for the side-chain nitrosation, whereas a million-fold reduction will be observed for nitrosation of the amino group.
Paramagnetic heavy fermion insulators consist of fully occupied quasiparticle bands inherent to Fermi liquid theory. The gap emergence below a characteristic temperature is the ultimate sign of coherence for a many-body system, which in addition can induce a non-trivial band topology. Here, we demonstrate a simple and efficient method to compare a model study and an experimental result for heavy fermion insulators. The temperature dependence of the gap formation in both local moment and mixed valence regimes is captured within the dynamical mean field (DMFT) approximation to the periodic Anderson model (PAM). Using the topological coherence temperature as the scaling factor and choosing the input parameter set within the mixed valence regime, we can unambiguously link the theoretical energy scales to the experimental ones. As a particularly important result, we find improved consistency between the scaled DMFT density of states and the photoemission near-gap spectra of samarium hexaboride (SmB\(_{6}\)).