Glutathione conjugation and cytochrome P-450 metabolism of methyl chloride in vitro

Sampling and Analysis of Low-Molecular-Weight Volatile Metabolites in Cellular Headspace and Mouse Breath

Volatile compounds, abundant in breath, can be used to accurately diagnose and monitor a range of medical conditions. This offers a noninvasive, low-cost approach with screening applications; however, the uptake of this diagnostic approach has been limited by conflicting published outcomes. Most published reports rely on large scale screening of the public, at single time points and without reference to ambient air. Here, we present a novel approach to volatile sampling from cellular headspace and mouse breath that incorporates multi-time-point analysis and ambient air subtraction revealing compound flux as an effective proxy of active metabolism. This approach to investigating breath volatiles offers a new avenue for disease biomarker discovery and diagnosis. Using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS), we focus on low molecular weight, metabolic substrate/by-product compounds and demonstrate that this noninvasive technique is sensitive (reproducible at ~1 µg cellular protein, or ~500,000 cells) and capable of precisely determining cell type, status and treatment. Isolated cellular models represent components of larger mammalian systems, and we show that stress- and pathology-indicative compounds are detectable in mice, supporting further investigation using this methodology as a tool to identify volatile targets in human patients.

A GC-wave correction algorithm that improves the analytical performance of aCGH

Array-based comparative genome hybridization (aCGH) is a powerful, data-intensive technique used to identify genomic copy number variation throughout the human genome. The use of aCGH clinically to identify pathogenic copy number aberrations is becoming common, and the statistical and mathematical algorithms used in aCGH data analysis play an important role in determining the performance of these platforms. Interpretation of aCGH data can be complicated by a platform-independent technical artifact described as GC-waves, which are wave patterns in CGH data correlating to regional GC-content of the human genome that can reduce the clinical specificity and sensitivity of aCGH platforms. We describe an automated GC-wave correction algorithm and techniques to understand how the correction affects the analytical performance of aCGH. This GC-correction algorithm was effective at mitigating GC-wave effects. After correction, array data were measurably improved by the algorithm, demonstrating improvements in specificity and sensitivity and in overall data quality.

In vitro biotransformation and genotoxicity of the drinking water disinfection byproduct bromodichloromethane: DNA binding mediated by glutathione transferase theta 1-1

The drinking water disinfection byproduct bromodichloromethane (CHBrCl(2)) was previously shown to be mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium that overexpress rat glutathione transferase theta 1-1 (GSTT1-1). Several experimental approaches were undertaken in this study to investigate the DNA covalent binding potential of reactive intermediates generated by GSTT1-1-mediated metabolism of CHBrCl(2). First, rodent hepatic cytosol incubations containing [(14)C]CHBrCl(2), supplemented glutathione (GSH), and calf thymus DNA resulted in approximately 3-fold (rat liver cytosol) and 7-fold (mouse liver cytosol) greater amounts of total radioactivity (RAD) associated with the purified DNA as compared to a control (absence of rodent cytosol) following liquid scintillation counting (LSC) of isolated DNA. The relative increase in DNA labeling is consistent with the conjugation activity of these rodent cytosols toward CHBrCl(2). Second, exposure of GSTT1-1-expressing S. typhimurium to [(14)C]CHBrCl(2) resulted in a concentration-dependent increase of bacterial DNA-associated total radioactivity. Characterization of DNA-associated radioactivity could not be assigned to a specific deoxynucleoside adduct(s) following enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA and subsequent HPLC analysis. A possible explanation for this observation was formation of a 'transient' adduct that was unstable in the DNA isolation and hydrolysis procedures employed. To circumvent problems of adduct instability, reactions of [(14)C]CHBrCl(2) with GSH catalyzed by recombinant rat GSTT1-1 were performed in the presence of calf thymus DNA or, alternatively, the model nucleophile deoxyguanosine. Hydroxyapatite chromatography of [(14)C]-labeled DNA or HPLC chromatography of [(14)C]-labeled deoxyguanosine derivatives demonstrated the covalent binding of [(14)C]CHBrCl(2)-derived metabolites to DNA and deoxyguanosine in low yield (approximately 0.02% of [(14)C]CHBrCl(2) biotransformed by GSTT1-1 resulted in DNA adducts). Cytochrome P450 (CYP)- and GST-catalyzed biotransformation of CHBrCl(2) in rat tissues (kidney and large intestine) that develop tumors following chronic CHBrCl(2) exposure were compared with rat liver (a nontarget tissue). Rat liver had a significant capacity to detoxify CHBrCl(2) (to carbon dioxide) compared with kidney and large intestine as a result of CYP-catalyzed oxidation, liver was approximately 16-fold more efficient than kidney and large intestine when intrinsic clearance values (V(max)/K(m)) were compared. In contrast, the efficiency of GST-mediated GSH conjugation of CHBrCl(2) in kidney and large intestine was only slightly lower than liver (approximately 2- to 4-fold lower), thus, the relative amounts of reactive intermediates that are produced with the capacity to covalently modify DNA may be enhanced in these extrahepatic tissues. The significance of these findings is that conjugation of CHBrCl(2) with GSH can result in the covalent modification of DNA and that cancer target tissues in rats have a much reduced detoxification capacity, but only a modest decrease in bioactivation capacity, as compared to the liver (a nontarget tissue in rats).

Mechanisms of carcinogenicity of methyl halides

Methyl chloride, bromide, and iodide are used as methylating agents. These compounds are mutagenic in short-term tests and do not require activation by exogenous S9 mix. In DNA-binding studies performed in rats and mice, 14C-labeled methyl chloride was given by inhalation, and methylation of DNA bases was examined. The compound did not lead to specific DNA adducts. In particular, methylation of DNA bases was not observed. In contrast, methyl bromide and methyl iodide, upon oral and inhalation administration to rats and mice, caused systemic DNA methylation. Specifically, 3-methyl-adenine, 7-methyl-guanine, and O6-methyl-guanine were formed. Long-term inhalation bioassays have been performed in rats and mice with methyl chloride and methyl bromide. Methyl chloride induced renal tumors, but only in male mice at the highest concentration tested (1000 ppm). Under these special conditions, a number of secondary effects occur subsequent to glutathione depletion in the target tissue, resulting in DNA damage (DNA-protein cross-links and probably DNA single-strand breaks). The particular coincidence of secondary high-dose effects precludes a risk extrapolation to man. Methyl bromide did not induce tumors in rats and mice when administered by inhalation. However, experimental data point to a possible local carcinogenic effect on the rat forestomach when the compound is given by gavage. A factor that accounts for the discrepancy between systemic DNA methylation and apparent noncarcinogenicity upon inhalation might be the preference of 7-N over O6 methylation of guanine. An extrapolation of the negative rodent inhalation bioassay of methyl bromide to man might be problematic because rodents metabolize methyl bromide very quickly whereas in humans there is a particular subpopulation that only poorly metabolizes the compound ("nonconjugators"). Such individuals can be characterized by incubation of erythrocytes with methyl chloride or methyl bromide and measurement of the substrate decline. Methyl iodide has been tested, with positive outcome, in early carcinogenicity bioassays not based on modern methodology. However, these results, along with the proven systemic methylating potency of methyl iodide, argue in favor of a carcinogenic effect of the compound.