Methylation of mu2 bacteriophage ribonucleic acid by the carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea: evidence for O-methylation

Repair of methylation damage in DNA and RNA by mammalian AlkB homologues

Human and Escherichia coli derivatives of AlkB enzymes remove methyl groups from 1-methyladenine and 3-methylcytosine in nucleic acids via an oxidative mechanism that releases the methyl group as formaldehyde. In this report, we demonstrate that the mouse homologues of the alpha-ketoglutarate Fe(II) oxygen-dependent enzymes mAbh2 and Abh3 have activities comparable to those of their human counterparts. The mAbh2 and mAbh3 release modified bases from both DNA and RNA. Comparison of the activities of the homogenous ABH2 and ABH3 enzymes demonstrate that these activities are shared by both sets of enzymes. An assay for the detection of alpha-ketoglutarate Fe(II) dioxygenase activity using an oligodeoxyribonucleotide with a unique modification shows activity for all four enzymes studied and a loss of activity for eight mutant proteins. Steady-state kinetics for removal of methyl groups from DNA substrates indicates that the reactions of the proteins are close to the diffusion limit. Moreover, mAbh2 or mAbh3 activity increases survival in a strain defective in alkB. The mRNAs of AHB2 and ABH3 are expressed most in testis for ABH2 and ABH3, whereas expression of the homologous mouse genes is different. The mAbh3 is strongly expressed in testis, whereas highest expression of mAbh2 is in heart. Other purified human AlkB homologue proteins ABH4, ABH6, and ABH7 do not manifest activity. The demonstration of mAbh2 and mAbh3 activities and their distributions provide data on these mammalian homologues of AlkB that can be used in animal studies.

The mechanism of carcinogenic action of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (SDMH) in rats

The radioactivity level in blood, bile, urine and contents of parts of the gastro-intestinal tract in rats was studied after subcutaneous administration of 3-H-1,2-dimethylhydrazine (3-H-SDMH) which induces colonic tumours. The alkylation of DNA, RNA and protein in the intestinal mucosa, liver and kidneys was estimated 1 h to 28 days after 3-H-SDMH treatment from the 3-H-incorporation into these macromolecules. Administration of 3-H-1,2-diethylhydrazine (3-H-SDEH) which does not induce intestinal tumours was made as a control. Fifteen to 30 min after 3-H-SDMH treatment, marked radioactivity was found in blood, bile, urine and in contents of all regions of gastro-intestinal tract. After 3-H-SDMH administration no label occurred in the contents of localized segments of gastro-intestinal tract although it was present in blood, bile and urine. 3-H-SDMH methylated DNA, RNA and proteins of intestinal mucosa, liver and kidney to a high degree. One hour after 3-H-SDMH treatment the incorporation of label into protein of intestinal mucosa was higher than into liver and kidneys. 3-H-SDEH did not alkylate macromolecules in these organs but did so in thymus, spleen and brain, which are target organs for this carcinogen. After total hepatectomy, 3-H-SDMH did not methylate macromolecules of the intestinal mucosa. The following mechanism for the carcinogenic effect of SDMH is suggested. A carcinogenic metabolite of SDMH forms, in the liver, a conjugate with glucuronic acid. This glucuronide enters the gut both with bile and directly via the circulation. Microbial beta-glucuronidase releases the active metabolite which, in turn, alkylates tissue macromolecules.