Dietary carcinogens and anticarcinogens. Oxygen radicals and degenerative diseases

Effect of diet on spontaneous disease in the inbred mouse strain C57B1/10J

The incidence of spontaneous disease in an inbred mouse strain, C57B1/10J, is compared in control groups from 5 carcinogenicity studies performed in the same laboratory between 1973 and 1980; the mice were bred at 2 laboratories, and 3 different diets were used. Significant differences were found in the incidence of total tumours and in many individual tumour types. The incidence of major non-neoplastic diseases also varied markedly. The effects of diet on spontaneous disease are now well-established. The results support this contention and demonstrate that diet may override the genetic characteristics of an inbred strain.

Human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase cDNA: isolation of clones synthesising high levels of active or inactive enzyme from an expression library

The molecular cloning and nucleotide sequence of the cDNA for human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD) is reported. The tacI promoter has been used to direct the synthesis in E. coli of this SOD which is soluble, stable, and of normal specific activity. The N-terminal methionine is removed from this protein. A construction with a ribosome binding site identical to that of the lacz gene 5' of the initiator methionine codon, resulted in low levels of SOD. An in vitro mutagenesis procedure was used to randomize the four nucleotides preceding the initiator methionine codon and the silent third positions of the codons specifying the second and third amino acids. Analysis of a sample of 500 clones showed that ca. 25 clones synthesised 5% or more of soluble cell protein as SOD. The nucleotide sequences of high level expressors showed a predominance of A and T residues in the variable positions 5' of the initiator methionine codon. An SOD mutant (ala4----gln) was discovered during the sequencing and shown to lack dismutation activity. Secondary structure predictions for the 5' regions of the mRNAs from high and low level expressors support the hypothesis that initiation of translation is much reduced if part of the region complementary to 16s rRNA is base paired in a stem structure.

The racemization rate of selenomethionine and methionine in yeast at 100 degrees C and neutral pH

The rate of racemization of selenomethionine in yeast at 100 degrees C and pH 7.4 was determined using gas chromatography to separate the trifluoroacetyl-L-prolyl-D,L-selenomethionine methyl esters. The racemization half-life (i.e., the time required to attain a D/L ratio of 0.33) of selenomethionine was found to be similar to that of methionine and have a value of 19-20 days.

Prooxidant states and tumor promotion

There is convincing evidence that cellular prooxidant states--that is, increased concentrations of active oxygen and organic peroxides and radicals--can promote initiated cells to neoplastic growth. Prooxidant states can be caused by different classes of agents, including hyperbaric oxygen, radiation, xenobiotic metabolites and Fenton-type reagents, modulators of the cytochrome P-450 electron-transport chain, peroxisome proliferators, inhibitors of the antioxidant defense, and membrane-active agents. Many of these agents are promoters or complete carcinogens. They cause chromosomal damage by indirect action, but the role of this damage in carcinogenesis remains unclear. Prooxidant states can be prevented or suppressed by the enzymes of the cellular antioxidant defense and low molecular weight scavenger molecules, and many antioxidants are antipromoters and anticarcinogens. Finally, prooxidant states may modulate the expression of a family of prooxidant genes, which are related to cell growth and differentiation, by inducing alterations in DNA structure or by epigenetic mechanisms, for example, by polyadenosine diphosphate-ribosylation of chromosomal proteins.

Sequence specific damage of DNA induced by reducing sugars

Reducing sugars induced alkali-labile sites in DNA. The DNA reacted with D-fructose 6-phosphate or D-fructose in the presence of Cu2+ was cleaved by the treatment with aqueous piperidine at 90 degrees C for 30 min. Alkali-labile sites were induced frequently at the pyrimidine residues, especially at the pyrimidine residues in pyrimidine-purine (5'----3') sequences. Transition metal ions such as Cu2+ and oxygen radicals such as hydrogen peroxide were possibly involved in the induction of alkali-labile sites.

Probing Cu(II)/H2O2 damage in DNA with a damage-specific DNA binding protein

A human damage-specific DNA binding protein has been employed as a sensitive probe of damage introduction by the combination of Cu(II) and H2O2. Optimal conditions for the introduction of protein-recognizable lesions into DNA in the Cu(II)/H2O2 system were obtained with 10(-5)-M CuCl2 and 0.10-mM H2O2. The absolute requirement for the presence of a metal ion suggests the involvement of a metal catalyzed Fenton reaction. However, damage introduction in the presence of KI and dimethylsulfoxide indicate that hydroxyl radical, while responsible for the introduction of strand breaks, is not the primary species responsible for lesion introduction. Protein-recognizable damage was introduced into DNA and poly d(G-C), but not into poly d(A-T). Loss of label from the five position of cytosine was also observed at high peroxide levels.

Deficiency of UV-induced excision repair in human thymocytes

The capacity of human thymocytes and of differentiated lymphocytes circulating in peripheral blood to perform unscheduled DNA synthesis (a measure of nucleotide excision repair) after UV irradiation was measured by radioautographic analysis. Only 4% of immature T lymphocytes, but 68% of circulating lymphocytes exhibited unscheduled DNA synthesis. When UV sensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes and thymocytes from the same donor were compared, the thymocytes, in each case, were significantly more UV sensitive than were the circulating lymphocytes. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from subjects undergoing halothane and morphine anesthesia during surgery showed 56% less excision repair capacity than those from unanesthetized donors. The difference occurred in the number of cells capable of repair rather than in the extent of repair synthesis per cell. Ultraviolet-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis occurred in only 3% of the thymocytes removed from rats killed by cervical dislocation. Therefore, the deficiency of excision repair was observed in rat thymocytes which had not been affected by anesthesia or surgical trauma. Since the thymus contains more than 90% immature T-cells, our results indicate that immature T-cells are deficient in nucleotide excision repair whereas the majority of mature peripheral blood lymphocytes exhibit such repair.

Benzo[a]pyrene dione-benzo[a]pyrene diol oxidation-reduction couples; involvement in DNA damage, cellular toxicity, and carcinogenesis

Three isomeric quinone metabolites of the environmental carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene undergo reversible, univalent oxidation-reduction cycles involving the corresponding benzo[a]pyrene diols and intermediate semiquinone radicals. Under anaerobic conditions, benzo[a]pyrene 1,6-dione, benzo[a]pyrene 3,6-dione, and benzo[a]pyrene 6,12-dione are readily reduced by mild biological agents such as NADH and glutathione. The benzo[a]pyrene diols, in turn, are very rapidly autooxidized to diones when exposed to air. Substantial amounts of hydrogen peroxide are produced during these autooxidations. The benzo[a]pyrene diol/benzo[a]pyrene dione interconversions proceed by one-electron steps; the corresponding semiquinone radicals were detected as intermediates when the reactions were carried out at high pH. Benzo[a]pyrene diones are electron-acceptor substrates for NADH dehydrogenase. Catalytic amounts of these metabolites, together with this respiratory enzyme, function as cyclic oxidation-reduction couples to link NADH and molecular oxygen in the continuous production of hydrogen peroxide. Benzo[a]pyrene diones induce strand scissions when incubated with T7 DNA. The damage is modified by conditions that indicate that reduced oxygen species propagate the reactions responsible for strand scission. Benzo[a]pyrene diones are cytotoxic at low concentrations to cultured hamster cells. The cytotoxic effect can be substantially reduced by depletion of oxygen from the growth medium and the atmosphere in which the cells are incubated. The results support the hypothesis that the biological activity of benzo[a]pyrene diones is due to the regenerative oxidation-reduction cycles involving quinone and hydroquinone forms; activated oxygen species and semiquinone radicals formed during these cycles are most likely responsible for the observed cytotoxic action. The role of activated oxygen species in carcinogenesis is discussed.

Effects of diethylhydroxylamine on hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation and glutathione S-transferases

The effects of diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA), a potent free-radical scavenger, on lipid peroxidation of rat liver microsomes were investigated in vitro. DEHA strongly inhibited ascorbate-dependent nonenzymatic microsomal lipid peroxidation. DEHA also completely inhibited nonenzymatic lipid peroxidation of heat-denatured microsomes, indicating that inhibition is protein-independent. DEHA only moderately inhibited NADPH-dependent enzymatic microsomal lipid peroxidation. DEHA has been shown to exhibit antitumorogenic properties. However, it had no significant effect on hepatic glutathione S-transferase, selenium-independent glutathione peroxidase, or selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase activity in the DEHA-treated CD-1 (lCR) Br male mouse. This suggests that the mode of action of DEHA as an antitumorogenic agent may be different from that of butylated hydroxyanisole, whose antitumor function is attributed to induction of glutathione S-transferase activity.

Protein pyrolysate products

Diet and nutrition may be responsible for 60% of the total cancer incidence for women and greater than 40% for men. Fat, animal protein, and meat consumption are highly correlated with colon cancer incidence. The charcoal broiling of meat and fish yield mutagenic substances. Many findings support the hypothesis that the predominant mutagens are formed by the Maillard reaction. A number of mutagenic compounds have been identified both from cooked foods and from protein pyrolysates. The identified compounds are N-heterocyclic primary amine derivatives of either carbolines, imidazoquinolines, or imidazoquinoxalines. The carboline-type mutagens are structurally related to the known carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and 2-aminofluorene (AF), while the imidazoquinoline and imidazoquinoxaline types are believed to resemble 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB). Studies support the theory that these compounds require metabolic activation and are carcinogenic. The major metabolites of several compounds have been identified as the N-hydroxy derivatives. DNA binding was found to be a necessary but not a sufficient condition for mutagenesis. The modified base products have been identified as C-8-guanyl derivatives, resembling adducts formed by the carcinogenic aromatic amines.

The evolutionary role of recombinational repair and sex

We have argued that sexual reproduction arose very early in the evolution of life as a way of overcoming informational damage or loss through recombinational repair. As organisms became more complex and genome information content expanded, diploidy, at first transient, became the predominant way of coping with increased vulnerability to mutation. This allowed further genome expansion. Once such expansion had occurred, however, diploidy became essentially irreversible, since reversion to haploidy would lead to expression of accumulated deleterious recessive alleles. This expression of recessive alleles also imposes a stiff penalty on organisms that experiment with close inbreeding forms of recombinational repair. A consequence of sex is that fitness (defined as per capita rate of increase) is density dependent. At low population density, fitness declines due to increased costs of finding a mate. This fundamental constraint on population increase can inhibit evolutionary success of the best adapted species if it is small in numbers. Sexual reproduction also tends to eliminate new coadapted genotypes within a species by breaking up their coadapted gene complexes; this also contributes to the cohesion of species. In general, we think the existence of species and their characteristic cohesion and stability over time are direct consequences of sex; and sex in turn is a consequence of the need to overcome gene damage through recombinational repair while at the same time masking the deleterious effects of mutation.

A mild, rapid, and efficient method of lipid extraction for use in determining vitamin E/lipid ratios

A new, general method for lipid extraction and measurement of vitamin E/total lipid ratios in tissue and cell samples has been developed. The new extraction procedure uses a combination of sodium dodecylsulfate, ethanol and n-heptane, and is mild, clean, convenient, efficient and rapid (less than or equal to 5 min). The efficiency of the new method has been confirmed for human plasma, red blood cells and rat liver homogenate by the comparison of the yields of vitamin E, O-acyl lipid and cholesterol with the yields obtained following conventional extraction procedures. Extraction efficiency also has been confirmed for multilamellar vesicles composed of known quantities of vitamin E, egg lecithin and cholesterol.

Dietary fat and mammary carcinogenesis

Evidence that dietary fat has an influence on carcinogenesis comes from both epidemiological data and experiments with animals. The experimental studies have indicated that dietary fat acts primarily as a promoter of carcinogenesis and that the effect depends on the type as well as the amount of fat in the diet. Vegetable oils containing polyunsaturated fatty acids of the linoleic acid family (n-6) have been shown to enhance mammary tumorigenesis, but a fish oil containing polyunsaturated fatty acids of the linolenic acid family (n-3) had an inhibitory effect at higher levels of intake. These and other findings suggest that the effect may be related to prostaglandins or other biologically active products of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Epidemiological data show a positive correlation between dietary fat and mortality from cancer at various sites, and this is supported by results of animal experiments in the case of colon cancer and pancreatic cancer as well as breast cancer. In the epidemiological data, cancer mortality shows strong positive correlations with total dietary fat and with animal fat, but not with fat derived from plants. Fats and oils used as spreads, cooking fats, and salad oils are the main source of fat in the American diet. Other major sources are meats and dairy products. Fat intake could probably be reduced substantially without serious deleterious effects, and this might help to decrease the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Lack of cross-resistance to X-irradiation in oxygen-resistant mammalian cell lines

HeLa and Chinese hamster ovary cells capable of proliferating at O2 levels that are ordinarily lethal to cells in tissue culture were selected by chronic adaptation to stepwise increased oxygen tensions. A popular hypothesis, originally proposed by Gerschman et al., states that the toxic action of both hyperoxia and X rays is based on a common mechanism involving the formation of oxidizing free radicals. Contrary to what may be predicted from this hypothesis we found that our oxygen-resistant substrains were not cross-resistant to X rays, as determined by a clonogenic cell survival assay. These results show that cellular properties governing increased resistance to killing by O2 do not necessarily contribute to cellular X ray tolerance.

On the loss of uricolytic activity during primate evolution--I. Silencing of urate oxidase in a hominoid ancestor

Urate oxidase activity is not detectable in liver homogenates from the gibbon, orangutan, chimpanzee, gorilla and human. Liver homogenates from five genera of Old World and two genera of New World monkeys have easily detectable levels of urate oxidase activity. There is no evidence for extant detectable intermediate steps in the loss of urate oxidase activity in the hominoids. Urate oxidase activity from Old World and New World monkeys is stable, a simple observation which debunks a long-standing myth. Urate oxidase activity was silenced in an ancestor to the five living genera of hominoids after divergence from the Old World monkeys.

Inability of chemically generated singlet oxygen to break the DNA backbone

The capacity of a photodynamic and a chemical source of singlet molecular oxygen to cause DNA strand breakage at pH 7.8 was compared in the following systems: (1) dissolved rose bengal plus light (400-660 nm), (2) a novel water-soluble naphthalene-derived endoperoxide showing temperature-dependent singlet oxygen release, in the absence of light. Covalently closed circular DNA was efficiently converted to the open (relaxed) form upon exposure to dissolved rose bengal plus light in a time-dependent reaction, showing that this system was capable of causing DNA strand breakage at pH 7.8. The reaction was greatly reduced under hypoxic conditions (less than 5 p.p.m. O2), was stimulated when using D2O instead of H2O as a solvent and was not inhibitable by superoxide dismutase, indicating that singlet oxygen was a critical intermediate. However, comparatively large fluxes of singlet oxygen generated by the endoperoxide completely failed to produce DNA strand breaks. We conclude that, although singlet oxygen seems to play a role in DNA strand breakage by rose bengal plus light, singlet oxygen per se is very inefficient if not completely incapable of causing DNA strand breakage.

Carcinogenic higher plant metabolites in the human diet in temperate countries: a review

Interest has increased recently in the possible human carcinogenic effects of plant metabolites in the diet. Some psoralens, some pyrrolizidine alkaloids and 'bracken carcinogen' may be dietary carcinogens, the latter two via contamination of food products from animals ingesting toxic plants. With the exception of 'bracken carcinogen', the structures of these compounds have been established. Further research to quantify the levels of these compounds in foodstuffs and to correlate these with the amounts of the compounds having toxic effects in laboratory animals would be valuable. Epidemiological studies on critical-intake consumer groups would also be of value in defining the hazard, if any, the presence of these compounds in the diet poses to the consumer.

Superoxide anion is generated from cellular metabolites by solar radiation and its components

Several endogenous cellular constituents were tested for their ability to produce superoxide anion (O2-) from ground-state molecular oxygen upon irradiation by solar radiation. The pyridine cofactors NADPH and NADH, riboflavin, and the nucleosides 2-thiouracil and 4-thiouridine were found to sensitize the transmission of photon energy from solar radiation and monochromatic radiation (290, 334, 365, and 405 nm) to oxygen, resulting in O2- formation, as detected by superoxide dismutase-inhibitable cytochrome c reduction. Quantum yields for the production of O2- indicate that NADPH is the most efficient and riboflavin the least efficient of the compounds tested. These data indicate that endogenous compounds may participate in the production of O2- by solar radiation and imply that O2- may play a role in sunlight-induced erythema and dermal carcinogenesis.

Carcinogenicity and modification of the carcinogenic response by BHA, BHT, and other antioxidants

Carcinogenicity tests showed that addition of the antioxidant BHA to the diet of F344 rats induced high incidences of papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma of the forestomach of both sexes. Male hamsters given BHA for 24 weeks also developed papilloma showing downward growth into the submucosa of the forestomach. These results indicate that BHA should be classified in the category of "sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity" as judged by IARC criteria. The 3-tert isomer of BHA seemed to be responsible for the carcinogenicity of crude BHA in the forestomach of rats. BHT was not found to be carcinogenic in rats or mice. In two-stage carcinogenesis in rats after appropriate initiation, BHA enhanced carcinogenesis in the forestomach and urinary bladder of rats, but inhibited carcinogenesis in the liver. BHT enhanced the induction of urinary bladder tumors and inhibited that of liver tumors, but had no effect on carcinogenesis in the forestomach. BHT could be a promoter of thyroid carcinogenesis. Sodium L-ascorbate enhanced forestomach and urinary bladder carcinogenesis. Ethoxyquin enhanced kidney and urinary bladder carcinogenesis, but inhibited liver carcinogenesis. Thus, these antioxidants modify two-stage chemical carcinogenesis in the forestomach, liver, kidney, urinary bladder, and thyroid, but show organ-specific differences in effects.

Chemiluminescent assay of lipid peroxide in plasma using cytochrome c heme peptide

A convenient assay specific to lipid hydroperoxide in plasma is presented. Cytochrome c heme peptide obtained from Saccharomyces was found to emit a strong chemiluminescence with any hydroperoxide, but not with TBA-reactive substances. The benefit of measuring this luminescence using photon counting is discussed with respect to in vivo lipid peroxidation.

Toxicity, tumor promotion, and carcinogenesis in relation to excessive dosage

Excessive dosage of many toxic compounds leads to a response by those exposed cells in the form of toxic hyperplasia. This toxicity often is a result of oxidation and peroxidation products that affect multiple sites of critical importance in the cell from the membrane of DNA itself. Some of these products are both mutagenic and carcinogenic and can affect key enzymes of defense and proliferation. Chronic toxicity of this type can deplete or inactivate endogenous defense systems that would normally prevent the formation of these toxic products. Subtoxic doses will not significantly compromise cellular defense systems and are far less likely to induce the critical events associated with hyperplasia, tumor promotion, and the expression of a "carcinogenic" effect. The many new discoveries in oxidation and peroxidation toxicity open up a greater awareness of the potential problems of interpretation associated with excessive dosage in evaluation of compounds for carcinogenicity.

Carotenoids and retinol: their possible importance in determining longevity of primate species

Aging and cancer share a number of characteristics. This has led to the hypothesis that species' differences in longevity may be governed in part by the same mechanisms as those processes governing species' differences in their age-dependent probability of developing cancer. Much evidence has indicated that beta-carotene and retinol may be important natural anticarcinogens. Accordingly, they also may be important antiaging agents. This possibility has been tested by determining if a positive correlation exists between the concentration of carotenoids and retinol in serum and brain tissue with the maximal life-span potential of mammalian species. The results show a significant positive correlation for the carotenoids but not for retinol. These results suggest that the carotenoids may be biologically active as protective agents against cancer and as longevity determinants. Retinol appears to be less important in these functions.

Urate and ascorbate: their possible roles as antioxidants in determining longevity of mammalian species

Urate has been shown to be a major antioxidant in human serum and was postulated to have a biological role in protecting tissues against the toxic effects of oxygen radicals and in determining the longevity of primates. This possibility has been tested by determining if the maximum lifespan potentials of 22 primate and 17 non-primate mammalian species are positively correlated with the concentration of urate in serum and brain per specific metabolic rate. This analysis is based on the concept that the degree of protection a tissue has against oxygen radicals is proportional to antioxidant concentration per rate of oxygen metabolism of that tissue. Ascorbate, another potentially important antioxidant in determining longevity of mammalian species, was also investigated using this method. The results show a highly significant positive correlation of maximum lifespan potential with the concentration of urate in serum and brain per specific metabolic rate. No significant correlation was found for ascorbate. These results support the hypothesis that urate is biologically active as an antioxidant and is involved in determining the longevity of primate species, particularly for humans and the great apes. Ascorbate appears to have played little or no role as a longevity determinant in mammalian species.

DNA repair deficiencies and cellular senescence are unrelated in xeroderma pigmentosum cell lines

Senescence of skin fibroblast cultures from normal individuals occurred after 23.9 +/- 6.3 (S.D.) passages; senescence in DNA repair-deficient cell lines from xeroderma pigmentosum patients occurred at 22.9 +/- 5.5 passages. Cells from xeroderma pigmentosum variant and Cockayne syndrome patients reached senescence at similar passage numbers. Xeroderma pigmentosum patients contract skin cancer as a consequence of their repair deficiencies but show no symptoms of premature ageing; neither do their cells age prematurely in vitro. The clinical spectrum and the life-span of fibroblasts in culture therefore lend no support for a correlation between ageing and the DNA repair or DNA replication deficiencies found in xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome cells.

Assessment of the carcinogenic potential of a proposed food coloring additive, laccaic acid, using short-term assays

Laccaic acid is a red colored natural dye produced by the insect Laccifer lacca or Coccus lacca. It is obtained in large amounts as a by-product of the shellac industry and has been considered for general use as a food coloring agent. Laccaic acid is found to have no mutagenic activity as assessed by two short-term assays: the Salmonella/microsome mutagenicity test, and the phi X fidelity assay. However, laccaic acid did inhibit metabolic cooperation in Chinese hamster V79 cells. These results suggest that laccaic acid should be tested in animals with particular emphasis on in vivo models for tumor promotion.

Studies on the promoting and complete carcinogenic activities of some oxidizing chemicals in skin carcinogenesis

Six oxidizing chemicals were tested for promoting and complete carcinogenic activities in skin carcinogenesis using female Sencar mice. In the promotion tests, the chemicals were applied twice a week for 51 weeks after initiation with dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA). In the tests for complete carcinogenic activities, the chemicals alone were applied for 51 weeks. Benzoyl peroxide was found to be a potent promoter as reported previously. Moreover, possible complete carcinogenic action of this chemical was found in this study. Potential promoting effect was suspected in sodium chlorite. Potassium bromate, ammonium persulphate, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite were inactive either as a promoter or a complete carcinogen.

Breakdown of P.G.E. 1 synthesis is responsible for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

This hypothesis suggests that repeated viral infections disrupt the biosynthesis of P.G.E. 1 and nullify a major system by which t lymphocytes are regulated. It is hypothesized that a breakdown of P.G.E. 1 synthesis is responsible for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the frequently associated Kaposi's sarcoma. A means of restoring P.G.E. 1 synthesis and reversing the immunodeficiency is proposed.

Thymine glycol and thymidine glycol in human and rat urine: a possible assay for oxidative DNA damage

Thymine glycol is a DNA damage product of ionizing radiation and other oxidative mutagens. In an attempt to find a noninvasive assay for oxidative DNA damage in individuals, we have developed an HPLC assay for free thymine glycol and thymidine glycol in urine. Our results indicate that humans excrete about 32 nmol of the two glycols per day. Rats, which have a higher specific metabolic rate and a shorter life span, excrete about 15 times more thymine glycol plus thymidine glycol per kg of body weight than do humans. We present evidence that thymine glycol and thymidine glycol are likely to be derived from repair of oxidized DNA, rather than from alternative sources such as the diet or bacterial flora. This noninvasive assay of DNA oxidation products may allow the direct testing of current theories which relate oxidative metabolism to the processes of aging and cancer in man.

Site-specific cleavage of double-strand DNA by hydroperoxide of linoleic acid

The breakage of double-strand (ds) DNA by 13-L-hydroperoxy-cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (LAHPO) was investigated by agarose gel electrophoresis of supercoiled pBR322 DNA and the site of cleavage on the DNA molecule was determined by the method of DNA sequence analysis using 3'-end and 5'-end-labeled DNA fragments as substrates. LAHPO caused cleavage at the position of guanine nucleotide in dsDNA. LAHPO caused dsDNA breaks at specific sites, but linoleic acid (LA) and 13-L-hydroxy-cis-9,trans-11-octadecadienoic acid (LAHO) have no such effects on dsDNA. The active oxygen atom of the hydroperoxy group of LAHPO was perhaps responsible for the site-specific cleavage of dsDNA.