Aerobic and Anaerobic Biodegradation of 1,2-Dibromoethane by a Microbial Consortium under Simulated Groundwater Conditions

This study was conducted to explore the potential for 1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB) biodegradation by an acclimated microbial consortium under simulated dynamic groundwater conditions. The enriched EDB-degrading consortium consisted of anaerobic bacteria Desulfovibrio, facultative anaerobe Chromobacterium, and other potential EDB degraders. The results showed that the biodegradation efficiency of EDB was more than 61% at 15 °C, and the EDB biodegradation can be best described by the apparent pseudo-first-order kinetics. EDB biodegradation occurred at a relatively broad range of initial dissolved oxygen (DO) from 1.2 to 5.1 mg/L, indicating that the microbial consortium had a strong ability to adapt. The addition of 40 mg/L of rhamnolipid and 0.3 mM of sodium lactate increased the biodegradation. A two-phase biodegradation scheme was proposed for the EDB biodegradation in this study: an aerobic biodegradation to carbon dioxide and an anaerobic biodegradation via a two-electron transfer pathway of dihaloelimination. To our knowledge, this is the first study that reported EDB biodegradation by an acclimated consortium under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, a dynamic DO condition often encountered during enhanced biodegradation of EDB in the field.

In situ bioremediation of 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) in groundwater to part-per-trillion concentrations using cometabolism

1,2-Dibromoethane (ethylene dibromide; EDB) is a probable human carcinogen that was historically added to leaded gasoline as a scavenger to prevent the build-up of lead oxide deposits in engines. Studies indicate that EDB is present at thousands of past fuel spill sites above its stringent EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 0.05 μg/L. There are currently no proven in situ options to enhance EDB degradation in groundwater to meet this requirement. Based on successful laboratory studies showing that ethane can be used as a primary substrate to stimulate the aerobic, cometabolic biodegradation of EDB to <0.015 μg/L (Hatzinger et al., 2015), a groundwater recirculation system was installed at the FS-12 EDB plume on Joint Base Cape Cod (JBCC), MA to facilitate in situ treatment. Groundwater was taken from an existing extraction well, amended with ethane, oxygen, and inorganic nutrients and then recharged into the aquifer upgradient of the extraction well creating an in situ reactive zone. The concentrations of EDB, ethane, oxygen, and anions in groundwater were measured with time in a series of nested monitoring wells installed between the extraction and injection well. EDB concentrations in the six monitoring wells that were hydraulically well-connected to the pumping system declined from ~ 0.3 μg/L (the average concentration in the recirculation cell after 3 months of operation without amendment addition) to <0.02 μg/L during the 4-month amendment period, meeting both the federal MCL and the more stringent Massachusetts MCL (0.02 μg/L). The data indicate that cometabolic treatment is a promising in situ technology for EDB, and that low regulatory levels can be achieved with this biological approach.

Variable dual carbon-bromine stable isotope fractionation during enzyme-catalyzed reductive dehalogenation of brominated ethenes

The potential of compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) to characterize biotransformation of brominated organic compounds (BOCs) was assessed and compared to chlorinated analogues. Sulfurospirillum multivorans and Desulfitobacterium hafniense PCE-S catalyzed the dehalogenation of tribromoethene (TBE) to either vinyl bromide (VB) or ethene, respectively. Significantly lower isotope fractionation was observed for TBE dehalogenation by S. multivorans (ε_C = -1.3 ± 0.2‰) compared to D. hafniense (ε_C = -7.7 ± 1.5‰). However, higher fractionation was observed for dibromoethene (DBE) dehalogenation by S. multivorans (ε_C = -16.8 ± 1.8‰ and -21.2 ± 1.6‰ for trans- and cis-1,2- (DBE) respectively), compared to D. hafniense PCE-S (ε_C = -9.5 ± 1.2‰ and -14.5 ± 0.7‰ for trans-1,2-DBE and cis-1,2-DBE, respectively). Significant, but similar, bromine fractionation was observed for for S. multivorans (ε_Br = -0.53 ± 0.15‰, -1.03 ± 0.26‰, and -1.18 ± 0.13‰ for trans-1,2-DBE, cis-1,2-DBE and TBE, respectively) and D. hafniense PCE-S (ε_Br = -0.97 ± 0.28‰, -1.16 ± 0.36‰, and -1.34 ± 0.32‰ for cis-1,2-DBE, TBE and trans-1,2-DBE, respectively). Variable CBr dual-element slopes were estimated at Λ (ε_C/ε_Br) = 1.03 ± 0.2, 17.9 ± 5.8, and 29.9 ± 11.0 for S. multivorans debrominating TBE, cis-1,2-DBE and trans-1,2-DBE, respectively, and at 7.14 ± 1.6, 8.27 ± 3.7, and 8.92 ± 2.4 for D. hafniense PCE-S debrominating trans-1,2-DBE, TBE and cis-1,2-DBE, respectively. A high variability in isotope fractionation, which was substrate property related, was observed for S. multivorans but not D. hafniense, similar as observed for chlorinated ethenes, and may be due to rate-limiting steps preceding the bond-cleavage or differences in the reaction mechanism. Overall, significant isotope fractionation was observed and, therefore, CSIA can be applied to monitor the fate of brominated ethenes in the environment. Isotope effects differences, however, are not systematically comparable to chlorinated ethenes.

Enhancing aerobic biodegradation of 1,2-dibromoethane in groundwater using ethane or propane and inorganic nutrients

1,2-Dibromoethane (ethylene dibromide; EDB) is a probable human carcinogen that was previously used as both a soil fumigant and a scavenger in leaded gasoline. EDB has been observed to persist in soils and groundwater, particularly under oxic conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate options to enhance the aerobic degradation of EDB in groundwater, with a particular focus on possible in situ remediation strategies. Propane gas and ethane gas were observed to significantly stimulate the biodegradation of EDB in microcosms constructed with aquifer solids and groundwater from the FS-12 EDB plume at Joint Base Cape Cod (Cape Cod, MA), but only after inorganic nutrients were added. Ethene gas was also effective, but rates were appreciably slower than for ethane and propane. EDB was reduced to <0.02 μg/L, the Massachusetts state Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), in microcosms that received ethane gas and inorganic nutrients. An enrichment culture (BE-3R) that grew on ethane or propane gas but not EDB was obtained from the site materials. The degradation of EDB by this culture was inhibited by acetylene gas, suggesting that degradation is catalyzed by a monooxygenase enzyme. The BE-3R culture was also observed to biodegrade 1,2-dichloroethane (DCA), a compound commonly used in conjunction with EDB as a lead scavenger in gasoline. The data suggest that addition of ethane or propane gas with inorganic nutrients may be a viable option to enhance degradation of EDB in groundwater aquifers to below current state or federal MCL values.

Biodegradation of low concentrations of 1,2-dibromoethane in groundwater is enhanced by phenol

The lead scavenger 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB), a former additive to leaded gasoline, is a common groundwater contaminant, yet not much knowledge is available for its targeted bioremediation, especially under in situ conditions. The study site was an aviation gas spill site, which, although all hydrocarbons and most of the EDB were remediated in the mid-1990s, still exhibits low levels of EDB remaining in the groundwater (about 11 μg EDB/l). To evaluate the effect of phenol on biostimulation of low concentration of EDB, microcosms were established from an EDB-contaminated aquifer. After 300 days at environmentally relevant conditions (12 ± 2 °C, static incubation), EDB was not significantly removed from unamended microcosms compared to the abiotic control. However, in treatments amended with phenol, up to 80 % of the initial EDB concentration had been degraded, while added phenol was removed completely. Microbial community composition in unamended and phenol-amended microcosms remained unchanged, and Polaromonas sp. dominated both types of microcosms, but total bacterial abundance and numbers of the gene for phenol hydroxylase were higher in phenol-amended microcosms. Dehalogenase, an indicator suggesting targeted aerobic biodegradation of EDB, was not detected in either treatment. This finding suggests phenol hydroxylase, rather than a dehalogenation reaction, may be responsible for 1,2-dibromoethane oxidation under in situ conditions. In addition, biostimulation of EDB is possible through the addition of low levels of phenol in aerobic groundwater sites.

Differences in crystallization of two LinB variants from Sphingobium japonicum UT26

Haloalkane dehalogenases are microbial enzymes that convert a broad range of halogenated aliphatic compounds to their corresponding alcohols by the hydrolytic mechanism. These enzymes play an important role in the biodegradation of various environmental pollutants. Haloalkane dehalogenase LinB isolated from a soil bacterium Sphingobium japonicum UT26 has a relatively broad substrate specificity and can be applied in bioremediation and biosensing of environmental pollutants. The LinB variants presented here, LinB32 and LinB70, were constructed with the goal of studying the effect of mutations on enzyme functionality. In the case of LinB32 (L117W), the introduced mutation leads to blocking of the main tunnel connecting the deeply buried active site with the surrounding solvent. The other variant, LinB70 (L44I, H107Q), has the second halide-binding site in a position analogous to that in the related haloalkane dehalogenase DbeA from Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA94. Both LinB variants were successfully crystallized and full data sets were collected for native enzymes as well as their complexes with the substrates 1,2-dibromoethane (LinB32) and 1-bromobutane (LinB70) to resolutions ranging from 1.6 to 2.8 Å. The two mutants crystallize differently from each other, which suggests that the mutations, although deep inside the molecule, can still affect the protein crystallizability.

Molecular approach to evaluate biostimulation of 1,2-dibromoethane in contaminated groundwater

This study investigated the effect of co-substrate amendments on EDB biodegradation under aerobic conditions. Microcosms were established using contaminated soil and groundwater samples and maintained under in situ conditions to determine EDB degradation rates, and the diversity and abundance of EDB degrading indigenous bacteria. After 100days of incubation, between 25% and 56% of the initial EDB was degraded in the microcosms, with added jet fuel providing highest degradation rates (2.97±0.49yr(-1)). In all microcosms, the quantity of dehalogenase genes did not change significantly, while the number of BTEX monooxygenase and phenol hydroxylase genes increased with jet fuel amendments. These results indicate that EDB was not degraded by prior dehalogenation, but rather by cometabolism with adapted indigenous microorganisms. This is also reflected in the history of the plume, which originated from an aviation gasoline pipeline leak. This study suggests that biostimulation of EDB is possible at aerobic groundwater sites.

Biodegradation of ethylene dibromide (1,2-dibromoethane [EDB]) in microcosms simulating in situ and biostimulated conditions

Although 1,2-dibromoethane (EDB) is a common groundwater contaminant, there is the lack of knowledge surrounding EDB biodegradation, especially under aerobic conditions. We have performed an extensive microcosm study to investigate the biodegradation of EDB under simulated in situ and biostimulated conditions. The materials for soil microcosms were collected from an EDB-contaminated aquifer at the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Cape Cod, MA. This EDB plume has persisted for nearly 40 years in both aerobic and anaerobic EDB zones of the aquifer. Microcosms were constructed under environmentally relevant conditions (field EDB and DO concentrations; incubated at 12°C). The results showed that natural attenuation occurred under anaerobic conditions but not under aerobic conditions, explaining why aerobic EDB contamination is so persistent. EDB degradation rates were greater under biostimulated conditions for both the aerobic and anaerobic microcosms. Particularly for aerobic biostimulation, methane-amended microcosms degraded EDB, on average, at a first order rate eight times faster than unamended microcosms. The best performing replicate achieved an EDB degradation rate of 7.0 yr(-1) (half-life (t(1/2))=0.10 yr). Residual methane concentrations and the emergence of methanotrophic bacteria, measured by culture independent bacterial analysis, provided strong indications that EDB degradation in aerobic methane-amended microcosms occurred via cometabolic degradation. These results indicate the potential for enhanced natural attenuation of EDB and that methane could be considered co-substrate for EDB bioremediation for the EDB-contaminated groundwater in aerobic zone.

Screening for reactive metabolites using electro-optical arrays featuring human liver cytosol and microsomal enzyme sources and DNA

We demonstrate for the first time the combination of human liver cytosol and microsomal enzyme sources into an electro-optical array to screen for reactive metabolites produced in multi-enzyme metabolic processes.

Anaerobic biodegradation of ethylene dibromide and 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of fuel hydrocarbons

Field evidence from underground storage tank sites where leaded gasoline leaked indicates the lead scavengers 1,2-dibromoethane (ethylene dibromide, or EDB) and 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) may be present in groundwater at levels that pose unacceptable risk. These compounds are seldom tested for at UST sites. Although dehalogenation of EDB and 1,2-DCA is well established, the effect of fuel hydrocarbons on their biodegradability under anaerobic conditions is poorly understood. Microcosms (2 L glass bottles) were prepared with soil and groundwater from a UST site in Clemson, South Carolina, using samples collected from the source (containing residual fuel) and less contaminated downgradient areas. Anaerobic biodegradation of EDB occurred in microcosms simulating natural attenuation, but was more extensive and predictable in treatments biostimulated with lactate. In the downgradient biostimulated microcosms, EDB decreased below its maximum contaminant level (MCL) (0.05 microg/L) at a first order rate of 9.4 +/- 0.2 yr(-1). The pathway for EDB dehalogenation proceeded mainly by dihaloelimination to ethene in the source microcosms, while sequential hydrogenolysis to bromoethane and ethane was predominant in the downgradient treatments. Biodegradation of EDB in the source microcosms was confirmed by carbon specific isotope analysis, with a delta13C enrichment factor of -5.6 per thousand. The highest levels of EDB removal occurred in microcosms that produced the highest amounts of methane. Extensive biodegradation of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and ortho-xylene was also observed in the source and downgradient area microcosms. In contrast, biodegradation of 1,2-DCA proceeded at a considerably slower rate than EDB, with no response to lactate additions. The slower biodegradation rates for 1,2-DCA agree with field observations and indicate that even if EDB is removed to below its MCL, 1,2-DCA may persist.

Analysis of DNA adducts formed in vivo in rats and mice from 1,2-dibromoethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, dibromomethane, and dichloromethane using HPLC/accelerator mass spectrometry and relevance to risk estimates

Dihaloalkanes are of toxicological interest because of their high-volume use in industry and their abilities to cause tumors in rodents, particularly dichloromethane and 1,2-dichloroethane. The brominated analogues are not used as extensively but are known to produce more toxicity in some systems. Rats and mice were treated i.p. with (14)C-dichloromethane, -dibromomethane, -1,2-dichloroethane, or -1,2-dibromoethane [5 mg (kg body weight)(-1)], and livers and kidneys were collected to rapidly isolate DNA. The DNA was digested using a procedure designed to minimize processing time, because some of the potential dihalomethane-derived DNA-glutathione (GSH) adducts are known to be unstable, and the HPLC fractions corresponding to major adduct standards were separated and analyzed for (14)C using accelerator mass spectrometry. The level of liver or kidney S-[2-(N(7)-guanyl)ethyl]GSH in rats treated with 1,2-dibromoethane was approximately 1 adduct/10(5) DNA bases; in male or female mice, the level was approximately one-half of this. The levels of 1,2-dichloroethane adducts were 10-50-fold lower. None of four known (in vitro) GSH-DNA adducts was detected at a level of >2/10(8) DNA bases from dibromomethane or dichloromethane. These results provide parameters for risk assessment of these compounds: DNA binding occurs with 1,2-dichloroethane but is considerably less than from 1,2-dibromoethane in vivo, and low exposure to dihalomethanes does not produce appreciable DNA adduct levels in rat or mouse liver and kidney of the doses used. The results may be used to address issues in human risk assessment.

Study of substrate inhibition by electrophoretically mediated microanalysis in partially filled capillary

Substrate inhibition is a common phenomenon in enzyme kinetics. We report here for the first time its study by a combination of the electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA) methodology with a partial filling technique. In this setup, the part of capillary is filled with the buffer best for the enzymatic reaction whereas, the rest of the capillary is filled with the background electrolyte optimal for separation of substrates and products. In the case of haloalkane dehalogenase, a model enzyme selected for this study, the enzymatic reaction was performed in 20 mM glycine buffer (pH 8.6) whereas 20 mM beta-alanine-hydrochloric acid buffer (pH 3.5) was used as a background electrolyte in combination with direct detection at 200 nm. The whole study was performed on poorly soluble brominated substrate--1,2-dibromoethane. As a result it was first necessary to find the compromise between the concentrations of the enzyme and the substrate preserving both the adequate sensitivity of the assay and at the same time the attainable substrate solubility. By means of the developed EMMA methodology we were able to determine the Michaelis constant (K(M)) as well as the substrate inhibition constant (K(SI)). The value of K(M) and K(SI) obtained were 7.7+/-2.5 mM and 1.1+/-0.4 mM, respectively. Observation of the substrate inhibition of haloalkane dehalogenase by 1,2-dibromoethane is in accordance with previous literature data.

Effect of Alterations of Key Active Site Residues in O6-Alkylguanine-DNA Alkyltransferase on Its Ability To Modulate the Genotoxicity of 1,2-Dibromoethane

The production of mutations and the reduction in survival of cells treated with alpha,omega-dihaloalkanes is greatly enhanced by the presence of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT), a DNA repair protein that removes O6-alkylguanine adducts from DNA [Liu, L., Hachey, D. L., Valadez, G., Williams, K. M., Guengerich, F. P., Loktionova, N. A., Kanugula, S., and Pegg, A. E. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 4250-4259]. The effects of alterations to key residues in the active site of AGT were studied using AGTs with point mutations. It was found that mutants of AGT at positions Tyr114, Arg128, Pro140, Gly156, Gly160, and Tyr158 did not bring about the increase in genotoxicity of 1,2-dibromoethane seen with wild-type AGT, although these mutants, with the exception of those at Tyr114 and Arg128, are known to have sufficient AGT repair function to be able to protect cells from alkylating agents. The R128A mutant was able to react with 1,2-dibromoethane at the Cys145 acceptor site, but the resulting AGT-Cys145S-(CH2)2Br was much less able to produce a covalent adduct with DNA. This result is explained by the need for AGT to induce a structural change in the DNA "flipping" of a guanine nucleotide into the substrate binding pocket where Cys145 is located since the side chain of residue Arg128 plays a critical role in this reaction. Point mutations in AGT at the other sites (Y114A, P140K, and Y158H) reduced the ability of the protein to react with 1,2-dibromoethane as measured by the loss of activity. These results were confirmed by MS analysis of the tryptic peptide that contains the modified Cys145. There was no change in the stability of the AGT-Cys145S-(CH2)2Br intermediate formed in mutants Y158H and P140K. The reaction was studied in detail with mutant P140K using dihaloalkanes of different length; no effect of the mutations was seen with dibromomethane, but an enhanced difference was observed with 1,3-dibromopropane and 1,5-dibromopentane. These results show that even slight alterations in the active site pocket of AGT that do not prevent its ability to protect cells from alkylating agents can block the paradoxical enhancement of the genotoxicity of the larger alpha,omega-dihaloalkanes by reducing the reaction with Cys145.

Chlorogenate hydrolase-catalyzed synthesis of hydroxycinnamic acid ester derivatives by transesterification, substitution of bromine, and condensation reactions

A chlorogenate hydrolase (EC 3.1.1.42) synthesized 2-phenylethyl caffeate (2-CAPE) from 5-chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) and 2-phenylethyl alcohol (2-PA) (by transesterification), from 5-CQA and 2-phenylethyl bromide (2-PBr) (by substitution of bromine), and from caffeic acid (CA) and 2-PA or 2-PBr (by condensation) as well as hydrolysis of 5-CQA. Some reaction conditions including pH, temperature, substrate and solvent concentrates, and reaction time were optimized for the production of 2-CAPE. A maximal molar yield of 50% was achieved by transesterification, 4.7% by substitution of bromine, and 13% by condensation. Among the parameters studied for optimization, the pH of the buffer solution and concentration of 2-PA or 2-PBr affected the production of 2-CAPE. The optimum pH for the hydrolysis reaction was within the neutral range (pH 6.5), whereas the residual three reactions were only catalyzed within the acidic range (pH 3.0-4.0). The optimum concentrations of 2-PA and 2-PBr for three reactions were 5-70 vol% and no 2-CAPE was produced in the 2-PA or 2-PBr solutions containing powdered enzyme. The enzyme may bind to the caffeoyl moiety of 5-CQA or CA to form an enzyme-substrate complex. It then catalyzes four different reactions corresponding to the reaction conditions.

Characterization of a mutagenic DNA adduct formed from 1,2-dibromoethane by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

It has been proposed that the DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase increases the mutagenicity of 1,2-dibromoethane by reacting with it at its cysteine acceptor site to form a highly reactive half-mustard, which can then react with DNA (Liu, L., Pegg, A. E., Williams, K. M., and Guengerich, F. P. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 37920-37928). Incubation of Escherichia coli-expressed human alkyltransferase with 1,2-dibromoethane and single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides led to the formation of covalent transferaseoligo complexes. The order of reaction determined was Gua>Thy>Cyt>Ade. Mass spectrometry analysis of the tryptic digest of the reaction product indicated that some of the adducts led to depurination with the release of the Gly136-Arg147 peptide cross-linked to a Gua at the N7 position, with the site of reaction being the active site Cys145 as established by chromatographic retention time and the fragmentation pattern determined by tandem mass spectrometry of a synthetic peptide adduct. The alkyltransferase-mediated mutations produced by 1,2-dibromoethane were predominantly Gua to Ade transitions but, in the spectrum of such rifampicin-resistant mutations in the RpoB gene, 20% were Gua to Thy transversions. The latter are likely to have arisen from the apurinic site generated from the Gua-N7 adduct. Support exists for an additional adduct/mutagenic pathway because evidence was obtained for DNA adducts other than at the Gua N7 atom and for mutations other than those attributable to depurination. Thus, chemical and biological evidence supports the existence of at least two alkyltransferase-dependent pathways for 1,2-dibromoethane-induced mutagenicity, one involving Gua N7-alkylation by alkyltransferase-S-CH2CH2Br and depurination, plus another as yet uncharacterized system(s).

Steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of halopropane conversion by a rhodococcus haloalkane dehalogenase

Haloalkane dehalogenase from Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB 13064 (DhaA) catalyzes the hydrolysis of carbon-halogen bonds in a wide range of haloalkanes. We examined the steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics of halopropane conversion by DhaA to illuminate mechanistic details of the dehalogenation pathway. Steady-state kinetic analysis of DhaA with a range of halopropanes showed that bromopropanes had higher k(cat) and lower K(M) values than the chlorinated analogues. The kinetic mechanism of dehalogenation was further studied using rapid-quench-flow analysis of 1,3-dibromopropane conversion. This provided a direct measurement of the chemical steps in the reaction mechanism, i.e., cleavage of the carbon-halogen bond and hydrolysis of the covalent alkyl-enzyme intermediate. The results lead to a minimal mechanism consisting of four main steps. The occurrence of a pre-steady-state burst, both for bromide and 3-bromo-1-propanol, suggests that product release is rate-limiting under steady-state conditions. Combining pre-steady-state burst and single-turnover experiments indicated that the rate of carbon-bromine bond cleavage was indeed more than 100-fold higher than the steady-state k(cat). Product release occurred with a rate constant of 3.9 s(-1), a value close to the experimental k(cat) of 2.7 s(-1). Comparing the kinetic mechanism of DhaA with that of the corresponding enzyme from Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 (DhlA) shows that the overall mechanisms are similar. However, whereas in DhlA the rate of halide release represents the slowest step in the catalytic cycle, our results suggest that in DhaA the release of 3-bromo-1-propanol is the slowest step during 1,3-dibromopropane conversion.

Activation of dihaloalkanes by thiol-dependent mechanisms

Dihaloalkanes constitute an important group of chemicals because of their widespread use in industry and agriculture and their potential for causing toxicity and cancer. Chronic toxic effects are considered to depend upon bioactivation, either by oxidation or thiol conjugation. Considerable evidence links genotoxicity and cancer with glutathione conjugations reactions, and some aspects of the mechanisms have been clarified with 1,2-dihaloalkanes and dihalomethanes. Recently the DNA repair protein O6-alkylguanine transferase has been shown to produce cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by means of a thiol-dependent process with similarities to the glutathione reactions.

Metabolism of the soil and groundwater contaminants, ethylene dibromide and trichloroethylene, by the tropical leguminous tree, Leuceana leucocephala

Ethylene dibromide (EDB; dibromoethane) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are hazardous environmental pollutants. The use of plants to treat polluted sites and groundwater, termed phytoremediation, requires plants that can both effectively remove the pollutant as well as grow in the climatic region of the site. In this paper, we report that the tropical leguminous tree, Leuceana leucocephala var. K636, is able to take up and metabolize EDB and TCE. The plants were grown in sterile hydroponic solution without its symbiont, Rhizobium. EDB and TCE were both metabolized by the plant, as indicated by the formation of bromide ion from EDB and trichloroethanol from TCE. Each plant organ was independently capable of debromination of EDB. L. leucocephala is being used to treat perched groundwater as part of a remedial alternative to address an accidental EDB spill in Hawaii. Bromide levels of plant tissues from the trees grown in the phytoremediation treatment cells at the Hawaii Site were elevated, indicating uptake and degradation of brominated compounds in the trees. This report is the first evidence of a tropical tree effectively metabolizing these common organic pollutants.

Microsomal oxidation of tribromoethylene and reactions of tribromoethylene oxide

Halogenated olefins are of interest because of their widespread use in industry and their potential toxicity to humans. Epoxides are among the enzymatic oxidation products and have been studied in regard to their toxicity. Most of the attention has been given to chlorinated epoxides, and we have previously studied the reactions of the mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrachloroethylene oxides. To further test some hypotheses concerning the reactivity of these compounds, we prepared tribromoethylene (TBE) oxide and compared it to trichloroethylene (TCE) oxide and other chlorinated epoxides. TBE oxide reacted with H(2)O about 3 times faster than did TCE oxide. Several hydrolysis products of TBE oxide were the same as formed from TCE oxide, i.e., glyoxylic acid, CO, and HCO(2)H. Br(2)CHCO(2)H was formed from TBE oxide; the yield was higher than for Cl(2)CHCO(2)H formed in the hydrolysis of TCE oxide. The yield of tribromoacetaldehyde was < 0.4% in aqueous buffer (pH 7.4). In rat liver microsomal incubations containing TBE and NADPH, Br(2)CHCO(2)H was a major product, and tribromoacetaldehyde was a minor product. These results are consistent with schemes previously developed for halogenated epoxides, with migration of bromine being more favorable than for chlorine. Reaction of TBE oxide with lysine yielded relatively more N-dihaloacetyllysine and less N-formyllysine than in the case of TCE oxide. This same pattern was observed in the products of the reaction of TBE oxide with the lysine residues in bovine serum albumin. We conclude that the proposed scheme of hydrolysis of halogenated epoxides follows the expected halide order and that this can be used to rationalize patterns of hydrolysis and reactivity of other halogenated epoxides.

Alpha1-adrenergic receptors and their significance to chemical-induced nephrotoxicity--a brief review

Stimulation of alpha-adrenergic receptors by cold stress or adrenergic agents has been shown to potentiate the toxicity of numerous toxicants. Several lines of evidence indicate that this interaction is dependent on glutathione depression and increased cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations produced by alpha1-adrenergic compounds. In this report, evidence is provided in support of the mechanism of adrenoreceptor-mediated potentiation of nephrotoxicity. Alpha1-adrenergic agonists are shown to potentiate the toxicity of nephrotoxicants that exert their toxic effects via glutathione conjugation or Ca2+ deregulation. This review summarizes the effects of the alpha1-adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine, at enhancing the toxicity of 2-bromohydroquinone, 1,2-dibromoethane, and cis-diammineplatinum(II) dichloride.

Ethylene dibromide and disulfiram: studies in vivo and in vitro on the mechanism of the observed synergistic carcinogenic response

Two possible mechanisms for the reported carcinogenic synergism between ethylene dibromide (EDB) and disulfiram have been investigated in vivo and in vitro, the first involving increased production of an EDB-derived glutathione mustard and the second increased production of bromoacetaldehyde. Consistent with both of these suggested mechanisms, repeated administrations of disulfiram to rats inreased liver glutathione-S-transferase activity and decreased liver low Km aldehyde dehydrogenase activity. However, when added to a rat liver S-9 fraction in vitro, disulfiram decreased transferase activity and only depressed the dehydrogenase activity after a period of preincubation. Although the mutagenic potency of EDB to Salmonella typhimurium was slightly enhanced in vitro by the addition of a rat liver S-9 fraction, the further addition of disulfiram to the assay medium produced no additional change. Similarly, the addition of a range of S-9 and S-0.5 liver fractions derived from disulfiram-treated rats also failed to enhance significantly its mutagenic potency over the normal S-9 fraction. The general implications of these findings are discussed.

Embryotoxicity of 1,2-dibromoethane in chick embryos in ovo: early and late effects

Embryotoxic effects of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE), a compound still widely used in industry, have been analyzed using chick embryos in ovo. Administration on embryonic days (ED) 3,4 or 5 induced dose-dependent embryotoxicity, manifested namely as the early embryonic death. A serious disturbance of the vascular system represented probably the main cause of strong embryolethality and growth retardation in the group of survivors. Amniotic bands in the parietal region and defects of brain and aorta prevailed in the malformation spectrum registered on ED 10. The local character of early induced changes suggests a direct effect of DBE itself in the embryotoxic action. This process is probably accomplished through interaction with lipids in cell membranes owing to the hydrophobic character of DBE molecules. The results, however, did not exclude an involvement of reactive metabolites in final embryotoxicity via the formation of DNA-adducts. In any case, a decreasing embryotoxicity of DBE with the age of treated embryos documented that the onset of liver function, assumed to occur on ED 5, did not increase the efficacy of DBE bioactivation. Our results confirmed the short-term embryotoxic properties of DBE reported in rat embryonic cultures. In addition, the in ovo system enabled us to reveal also long-term consequences represented namely by the formation of amniotic bands, not detectable in studies in vitro. The results obtained with the chick embryo in ovo confirmed the suitability of this system for embryotoxicity testing.

Conjugative metabolism of 1,2-dibromoethane in mitochondria: disruption of oxidative phosphorylation and alkylation of mitochondrial DNA

1,2-Dibromoethane (DBE) is an environmental contaminant that is metabolized by glutathione S-transferases to a haloethane-glutathione conjugate. Since haloethane-glutathione conjugates are known to alkylate nuclear DNA and cytoplasmic proteins, these effects were investigated in isolated rat liver mitochondria exposed to DBE by measuring guanine adducts and several aspects of oxidative phosphorylation including respiratory control ratios, respiratory enzyme activity, and ATP levels. Mitochondrial large-amplitude swelling and glutathione status were assessed to evaluate mitochondrial membrane integrity and function. When exposed to DBE, mitochondria became uncoupled rapidly, yet no large-amplitude swelling or extramitochondrial glutathione was observed. Mitochondrial GSH was depleted to 2-53% of controls after a 60-min exposure to micromolar quantities of DBE; however, no extramitochondrial GSH or GSSG was detected. The depletion of mitochondrial glutathione corresponded to an increase of an intramitochondrial GSH-conjugate which, based on HPLC elution profiles and retention times, appeared to be S,S'-(1,2-ethanediyl)bis(glutathione). Activities of the NADH oxidase and succinate oxidase respiratory enzyme systems were inhibited 10-74% at micromolar levels of DBE, with succinate oxidase inactivation occurring at lower doses. ATP concentrations in DBE-exposed mitochondria in the presence of succinate were 5-90% lower than in the controls. The DNA adduct S-[2-(N(7)-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione was detected by HPLC in mtDNA isolated from DBE-exposed mitochondria. The results suggest that respiratory enzyme inhibition, glutathione depletion, decreased ATP levels, and DNA alkylation in DBE-exposed mitochondria occur via the formation of an S-(2-bromoethyl)glutathione conjugate, the precursor of the episulfonium ion alkylating species of DBE.

Enhanced metabolism of halogenated hydrocarbons in transgenic plants containing mammalian cytochrome P450 2E1

Chlorinated solvents, especially trichloroethylene (TCE), are the most widespread groundwater contaminants in the United States. Existing methods of pumping and treating are expensive and laborious. Phytoremediation, the use of plants for remediation of soil and groundwater pollution, is less expensive and has low maintenance; however, it requires large land areas and there are a limited number of suitable plants that are known to combine adaptation to a particular environment with efficient metabolism of the contaminant. In this work, we have engineered plants with a profound increase in metabolism of the most common contaminant, TCE, by introducing the mammalian cytochrome P450 2E1. This enzyme oxidizes a wide range of important pollutants, including TCE, ethylene dibromide, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, and vinyl chloride. The transgenic plants had a dramatic enhancement in metabolism of TCE of up to 640-fold as compared with null vector control plants. The transgenic plants also showed an increased uptake and debromination of ethylene dibromide. Therefore, transgenic plants with this enzyme could be used for more efficient remediation of many sites contaminated with halogenated hydrocarbons.

Roles of horizontal gene transfer and gene integration in evolution of 1,3-dichloropropene- and 1,2-dibromoethane-degradative pathways

The haloalkane-degrading bacteria Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB13064, Pseudomonas pavonaceae 170, and Mycobacterium sp. strain GP1 share a highly conserved haloalkane dehalogenase gene (dhaA). Here, we describe the extent of the conserved dhaA segments in these three phylogenetically distinct bacteria and an analysis of their flanking sequences. The dhaA gene of the 1-chlorobutane-degrading strain NCIMB13064 was found to reside within a 1-chlorobutane catabolic gene cluster, which also encodes a putative invertase (invA), a regulatory protein (dhaR), an alcohol dehydrogenase (adhA), and an aldehyde dehydrogenase (aldA). The latter two enzymes may catalyze the oxidative conversion of n-butanol, the hydrolytic product of 1-chlorobutane, to n-butyric acid, a growth substrate for many bacteria. The activity of the dhaR gene product was analyzed in Pseudomonas sp. strain GJ1, in which it appeared to function as a repressor of dhaA expression. The 1,2-dibromoethane-degrading strain GP1 contained a conserved DNA segment of 2.7 kb, which included dhaR, dhaA, and part of invA. A 12-nucleotide deletion in dhaR led to constitutive expression of dhaA in strain GP1, in contrast to the inducible expression of dhaA in strain NCIMB13064. The 1, 3-dichloropropene-degrading strain 170 possessed a conserved DNA segment of 1.3 kb harboring little more than the coding region of the dhaA gene. In strains 170 and GP1, a putative integrase gene was found next to the conserved dhaA segment, which suggests that integration events were responsible for the acquisition of these DNA segments. The data indicate that horizontal gene transfer and integrase-dependent gene acquisition were the key mechanisms for the evolution of catabolic pathways for the man-made chemicals 1, 3-dichloropropene and 1,2-dibromoethane.

1,2-dibromoethane--a toxicological review

DBE is transported in the UK in road tankers and there is always the possibility of an accident. The consequences could be serious, since this chemical is absorbed by all routes, rapidly penetrates clothing and there is no effective antidote. Severe cases of poisoning are difficult to treat and there is a high mortality. Prevention of exposure is therefore essential.

Reference range concentrations of N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine, a common metabolite of several volatile organic compounds, in the urine of adults in the United States

N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-L-cysteine (2-hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid, HEMA) is a urinary metabolite of several hazardous chemicals, including vinyl chloride (VC), ethylene oxide (EO), and ethylene dibromide (EDB). Information about the levels of HEMA in the general population is useful for assessing human exposures to HEMA parent compounds, including VC, EO, and EDB. To establish reference range concentrations for HEMA, we analyzed urine samples from 412 adult participants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) by using isotope-dilution high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). HEMA was detected in 71% of the samples examined. Creatinine-corrected concentrations ranged from less than 0.68 microg/g creatinine to 58.7 microg/g creatinine; the 95th percentile concentration was 11.2 microg/g creatinine; and the geometric mean and median creatinine-corrected concentrations were both 1.6 microg/g creatinine. We observed a statistically significant difference (P=0.0001) in the creatinine-corrected geometric mean concentration values of HEMA between smokers (2.8 microg/g creatinine) and nonsmokers (1.1 microg/g creatinine). The high levels of HEMA seen among smokers likely originated from HEMA-producing chemicals known to be present in tobacco smoke.

A bacterial haloalkane dehalogenase gene as a negative selectable marker in Arabidopsis

The dhlA gene of Xanthobacter autotrophicus GJ10 encodes a dehalogenase which hydrolyzes dihalo- alkanes, such as 1, 2-dichloroethane (DCE), to a halogenated alcohol and an inorganic halide (Janssen et al. 1994, Annu. Rev. Microbiol. 48, 163-191). In Xanthobacter, these alcohols are further catabolized by alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities, and by the product of the dhlB gene to a second halide and a hydroxyacid. The intermediate halogenated alcohols and, in particular, the aldehydes are more toxic than the haloalkane substrates or the pathway products. We show here that plants, including Arabidopsis, tobacco, oil seed rape and rice, do not express detectable haloalkane dehalogenase activities, and that wild-type Arabidopsis grows in the presence of DCE. In contrast, DCE applied as a volatile can be used to select on plates or in soil transgenic Arabidopsis which express dhlA. The dhlA marker therefore provides haloalkane dehalogenase reporter activity and substrate dependent negative selection in transgenic plants.

Degradation of 1,2-dibromoethane by Mycobacterium sp. strain GP1

The newly isolated bacterial strain GP1 can utilize 1, 2-dibromoethane as the sole carbon and energy source. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the organism was identified as a member of the subgroup which contains the fast-growing mycobacteria. The first step in 1,2-dibromoethane metabolism is catalyzed by a hydrolytic haloalkane dehalogenase. The resulting 2-bromoethanol is rapidly converted to ethylene oxide by a haloalcohol dehalogenase, in this way preventing the accumulation of 2-bromoethanol and 2-bromoacetaldehyde as toxic intermediates. Ethylene oxide can serve as a growth substrate for strain GP1, but the pathway(s) by which it is further metabolized is still unclear. Strain GP1 can also utilize 1-chloropropane, 1-bromopropane, 2-bromoethanol, and 2-chloroethanol as growth substrates. 2-Chloroethanol and 2-bromoethanol are metabolized via ethylene oxide, which for both haloalcohols is a novel way to remove the halide without going through the corresponding acetaldehyde intermediate. The haloalkane dehalogenase gene was cloned and sequenced. The dehalogenase (DhaAf) encoded by this gene is identical to the haloalkane dehalogenase (DhaA) of Rhodococcus rhodochrous NCIMB 13064, except for three amino acid substitutions and a 14-amino-acid extension at the C terminus. Alignments of the complete dehalogenase gene region of strain GP1 with DNA sequences in different databases showed that a large part of a dhaA gene region, which is also present in R. rhodochrous NCIMB 13064, was fused to a fragment of a haloalcohol dehalogenase gene that was identical to the last 42 nucleotides of the hheB gene found in Corynebacterium sp. strain N-1074.

Kinetic analysis and X-ray structure of haloalkane dehalogenase with a modified halide-binding site

Haloalkane dehalogenase (DhlA) catalyzes the hydrolysis of haloalkanes via an alkyl-enzyme intermediate. Trp175 forms a halogen/halide-binding site in the active-site cavity together with Trp125. To get more insight in the role of Trp175 in DhlA, we mutated residue 175 and explored the kinetics and X-ray structure of the Trp175Tyr enzyme. The mutagenesis study indicated that an aromatic residue at position 175 is important for the catalytic performance of DhlA. Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of Trp175Tyr-DhlA showed that the observed 6-fold increase of the Km for 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) results from reduced rates of both DBE binding and cleavage of the carbon-bromine bond. Furthermore, the enzyme isomerization preceding bromide release became 4-fold faster in the mutant enzyme. As a result, the rate of hydrolysis of the alkyl-enzyme intermediate became the main determinant of the kcat for DBE, which was 2-fold higher than the wild-type kcat. The X-ray structure of the mutant enzyme at pH 6 showed that the backbone structure of the enzyme remains intact and that the tyrosine side chain lies in the same plane as Trp175 in the wild-type enzyme. The Clalpha-stabilizing aromatic rings of Tyr175 and Trp125 are 0.7 A further apart and due to the smaller size of the mutated residue, the volume of the cavity has increased by one-fifth. X-ray structures of mutant and wild-type enzyme at pH 5 demonstrated that the Tyr175 side chain rotated away upon binding of an acetic acid molecule, leaving one of its oxygen atoms hydrogen bonded to the indole nitrogen of Trp125 only. These structural changes indicate a weakened interaction between residue 175 and the halogen atom or halide ion in the active site and help to explain the kinetic changes induced by the Trp175Tyr mutation.

Polymerase blockage and misincorporation of dNTPs opposite the ethylene dibromide-derived DNA adducts S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione, S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione, and S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione

The carcinogen ethylene dibromide (EDB) has been shown to cause glutathione (GSH)-dependent base-substitution mutations, especially GC to AT transitions, in a variety of bacterial and eukaryotic systems. The known DNA adducts S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]GSH, S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]GSH, and S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]GSH were individually placed at a site in a single oligonucleotide. Polymerase extension studies were carried out using Escherichia coli polymerase I exo- (Klenow fragment, Kf-) and polymerase II exo- (pol II-), bacteriophage T7 polymerase exo-, and human immunodeficiency virus-1 reverse transcriptase in order to characterize misincorporation events. Even though extension was not as efficient as with the nonadducted template, some fully extended primers were observed with the template containing S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]GSH using all of these polymerases. dCTP was the most preferred nucleotide incorporated opposite S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]GSH by most of polymerases examined; however, dTTP incorporation was observed opposite S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]GSH with pol II-. Both S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]GSH and S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]GSH strongly blocked replication by all polymerases. Only dATP and dGTP were incorporated opposite S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]GSH by both Kf- and pol II-. S-[2-(O6-Guanyl)ethyl]GSH was shown to strongly code for dATP incorporation by Kf-. With pol II-, dTTP was incorporated opposite S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]GSH. In conclusion, all three GSH-guanyl adducts derived from the carcinogen EDB blocked the polymerases and were capable of miscoding.

Synthesis of oligonucleotides containing the ethylene dibromide-derived DNA adducts S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione, S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione, and S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]glutathione at a single site

The carcinogen ethylene dibromide (EDB) is activated by enzymatic conjugation with GSH to form S-(2-bromoethyl)GSH, which reacts with DNA via an episulfonium ion. The major DNA adduct derived from EDB was previously characterized as S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]GSH, and S-[2-(N2-guanyl)ethyl]GSH and S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]GSH are minor adducts [Cmarik, J. L., Humphreys, W. G., Bruner, K. L., Lloyd, R. S., Tibbetts, C., and Guengerich, F. P. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 6672-6679]. S-[2-(N7-Guanyl)ethyl]GSH has been incorporated at the G* site in d(5'-TGCTG*CAAG-3'), a site previously found to show GC to AT transitions following treatment of M13 phage with S-(2-chloroethyl)GSH, and the desired product was separated by HPLC. This was ligated to d(5'-GGTACCGAG-3') to yield d(5'-TGCTG*CAAGGGTACCGAG-3'). S-[2-(N2-Guanyl)ethyl]GSH was incorporated into the G* site of the oligonucleotide in d(5'-TGCTG*CAAGGGTACCGAG-3') by reacting S-(2-aminoethyl)GSH with an oligomer containing 2-fluoro-O6-[(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]deoxyinosine at the target site. The 5'-(dimethoxytrityl)-N2-(phenoxyacetyl)-N-[(fluorenylmethyl)formyl ] derivative of S-[2-(O6-deoxyguanosyl)-ethyl]GSH dimethyl ester was synthesized by Mitsunobu alkylation of 5'-(dimethoxytrityl)-N2-(phenoxyacetyl)deoxyguanosine with N-[(fluorenylmethyl)formyl]-S-(2-hydroxyethyl)GSH dimethyl ester, modified to form the phosphoramidite derivative, and incorporated at the G* site of d(5'-TGCTG*CAAGGGTACCGAG-3'). The protective groups were removed with 0.10 N NaOH to give the modified oligonucleotide containing S-[2-(O6-guanyl)ethyl]GSH. Although the overall yields were low, the synthesis of a single set of target site oligonucleotides containing these overall yields were low, the synthesis of a single set of target site oligonucleotides containing these three known guanyl adducts allows for in vitro site-specific misincorporation studies.

Repositioning the catalytic triad aspartic acid of haloalkane dehalogenase: effects on stability, kinetics, and structure

Haloalkane dehalogenase (DhlA) catalyzes the hydrolysis of haloalkanes via an alkyl-enzyme intermediate. The covalent intermediate, which is formed by nucleophilic substitution with Asp124, is hydrolyzed by a water molecule that is activated by His289. The role of Asp260, which is the third member of the catalytic triad, was studied by site-directed mutagenesis. Mutation of Asp260 to asparagine resulted in a catalytically inactive D260N mutant, which demonstrates that the triad acid Asp260 is essential for dehalogenase activity. Furthermore, Asp260 has an important structural role, since the D260N enzyme accumulated mainly in inclusion bodies during expression, and neither substrate nor product could bind in the active-site cavity. Activity for brominated substrates was restored to D260N by replacing Asn148 with an aspartic or glutamic acid. Both double mutants D260N+N148D and D260N+N148E had a 10-fold reduced kcat and 40-fold higher Km values for 1,2-dibromoethane compared to the wild-type enzyme. Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of the D260N+N148E double mutant showed that the decrease in kcat was mainly caused by a 220-fold reduction of the rate of carbon-bromine bond cleavage and a 10-fold decrease in the rate of hydrolysis of the alkyl-enzyme intermediate. On the other hand, bromide was released 12-fold faster and via a different pathway than in the wild-type enzyme. Molecular modeling of the mutant showed that Glu148 indeed could take over the interaction with His289 and that there was a change in charge distribution in the tunnel region that connects the active site with the solvent. On the basis of primary structure similarity between DhlA and other alpha/beta-hydrolase fold dehalogenases, we propose that a conserved acidic residue at the equivalent position of Asn148 in DhlA is the third catalytic triad residue in the latter enzymes.

Urinary thiodiacetic acid. A selective biomarker for the cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidation of 1,2-dibromoethane in the rat

1,2-Dibromoethane (1,2-DBE) is a carcinogenic compound that is metabolized both by cytochrome P450 (P450) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes, and that has been used by us as a model compound to study interindividual variability in biotransformation reactions. In this study, the excretion of thiodiacetic acid (TDA) and S-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-acetyl-l-cysteine (2-HEMA) were measured in the urine of rats dosed with 1,2-DBE, and experiments were performed to investigate to what extent P450 and GST enzymes contribute to the formation of TDA. To this end, CYP2E1, the main P450 isoenzyme catalyzing the oxidation of 1,2-DBE, was inhibited using disulfiram and diallylsulfide. Significant inhibition of CYP2E1, as confirmed by inhibition of the hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone, as well as inhibition of the formation of TDA from 1,2-DBE, was observed upon pretreatment of rats with these inhibitors, indicating that the P450-catalyzed oxidation of 1,2-DBE plays the major role in the TDA formation. No significant excretion of TDA was observed after administration of intermediate products of the GST pathway [i.e. S-(2-hydroxyethyl)glutathione and 2-HEMA], indicating that the GST-catalyzed metabolism of 1,2-DBE does not contribute to a significant extent to the formation of TDA. The results of this study show that TDA is specifically formed by P450 metabolites of 1,2-DBE, whereas the conjugation of 1,2-DBE to glutathione by GST enzymes does not contribute to the formation of TDA. TDA, excreted in urine, may thus be used as a biomarker of exposure to 1,2-DBE selectively reflecting the P450-catalyzed oxidation. In addition to 2-HEMA and S-[2-(N7-guanyl)ethyl]-N-acetyl-l-cysteine, TDA may be a valuable tool for biomonitoring and mechanistic studies into the metabolism and toxicity of 1,2-DBE.

Enrichment of mixed cultures capable of aerobic degradation of 1,2-dibromoethane

1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) is a common environmental contaminant; it is potentially carcinogenic and has been detected in soil and groundwater supplies. Most of the biodegradation studies to date have been performed under anaerobic conditions or in the context of soil remediation, where the pollutant concentration was in the parts per billion range. In this work a mixed bacterial culture capable of complete aerobic mineralization of concentrations of DBE up to 1 g liter(-1) under well-controlled laboratory conditions was enriched. In order to verify biodegradation, formation of biodegradation products as well as the disappearance of DBE from the biological medium were measured. Complete mineralization was verified by measuring stoichiometric release of the biodegradation products. This mixed culture was found to be capable of degrading other halogenated compounds, including bromoethanol, the degradation of which has not been reported previously.

Kinetic characterization and X-ray structure of a mutant of haloalkane dehalogenase with higher catalytic activity and modified substrate range

Conversion of halogenated aliphatics by haloalkane dehalogenase proceeds via the formation of a covalent alkyl-enzyme intermediate which is subsequently hydrolyzed by water. In the wild type enzyme, the slowest step for both 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,2-dibromoethane conversion is a unimolecular enzyme isomerization preceding rapid halide dissociation. Phenylalanine 172 is located in a helix-loop-helix structure that covers the active site cavity of the enzyme, interacts with the C1 beta of 1,2-dichloroethane during catalysis, and could be involved in stabilization of this helix-loop-helix region of the cap domain of the enzyme. To obtain more information about the role of this residue in dehalogenase function, we performed a mutational analysis of position 172 and studied the kinetics and X-ray structure of the Phe172Trp enzyme. The Phe172Trp mutant had a 10-fold higher Kcat/Km for 1-chlorohexane and a 2-fold higher Kcat for 1,2-dibromoethane than the wild-type enzyme. The X-ray structure of the Phe172Trp enzyme showed a local conformational change in the helix-loop-helix region that covers the active site. This could explain the elevated activity for 1-chlorohexane of the Phe172Trp enzyme, since it allows this large substrate to bind more easily in the active site cavity. Pre-steady-state kinetic analysis showed that the increase in Kcat found for 1,2-dibromoethane conversion could be attributed to an increase in the rate of an enzyme isomerization step that preceeds halide release. The observed conformational difference between the helix-loop-helix structures of the wild-type enzyme and the faster mutant suggests that the isomerization required for halide release could be a conformational change that takes place in this region of the cap domain of the dehalogenase. It is proposed that Phe172 is involved in stabilization of the helix-loop-helix structure that covers the active site of the enzyme and creates a rigid hydrophobic cavity for small apolar halogenated alkanes.

Inter-individual variability in the oxidation of 1,2-dibromoethane: use of heterologously expressed human cytochrome P450 and human liver microsomes

1,2-Dibromoethane (1,2-DBE) is mainly used as an additive in leaded gasoline and as a soil fumigant and it is a suspected carcinogen in humans. In this study, the oxidative bioactivation of 1,2-DBE to 2-bromoacetaldehyde (2-BA) was studied using heterologously expressed human cytochrome P450 (P450) isoenzymes and human liver microsomes. Out of ten heterologously expressed human P450 isoenzymes (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2E1, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C18, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5), only human CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 metabolized 1,2-DBE, albeit with strongly differing catalytic efficiencies. The apparent Km and Vmax values were 3.3 mM and 0.17 pmol/min per pmol P450 for CYP2A6, 9.7 mM and 3.18 pmol/min per pmol P450 for CYP2B6 and 42 microM and 1.3 pmol/min per pmol P450 for CYP2E1, respectively. In all of 21 human liver samples studied, 1,2-DBE was oxidized with activities ranging from 22.2 to 1027.6 pmol/min per mg protein, thus showing a 46-fold inter-individual variability. The kinetics of the oxidative metabolism of 1,2-DBE to 2-BA in human liver microsomes were linear, indicating the involvement of primarily one single P450 isoenzyme. There was a tendency towards a positive correlation between the oxidative metabolism of 1,2-DBE in the human liver microsomes and the 6-hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone, a selective substrate for CYP2E1. Furthermore, the oxidative metabolism of 1,2-DBE was inhibited by the specific CYP2E1 inhibitors disulfiram (DS) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC). In contrast, a poor correlation was found between the immunochemically quantified amount of CYP2E1 and the microsomal chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation or the 1,2-DBE oxidation. The results indicate that CYP2E1 is probably the major P450 isoenzyme involved in the oxidative hepatic metabolism of 1,2-DBE in humans. The inter-individual variability in the oxidative bioactivation of 1,2-DBE in humans, largely due to inter-individual variability in the catalytic activity of hepatic CYP2E1, may have important consequences for the risk assessment for human exposure to 1,2-DBE.

Specificity and kinetics of haloalkane dehalogenase

Haloalkane dehalogenase converts halogenated alkanes to their corresponding alcohols. The active site is buried inside the protein and lined with hydrophobic residues. The reaction proceeds via a covalent substrate-enzyme complex. This paper describes a steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetic analysis of the conversion of a number of substrates of the dehalogenase. The kinetic mechanism for the "natural" substrate 1,2-dichloroethane and for the brominated analog and nematocide 1,2-dibromoethane are given. In general, brominated substrates had a lower Km, but a similar kcat than the chlorinated analogs. The rate of C-Br bond cleavage was higher than the rate of C-Cl bond cleavage, which is in agreement with the leaving group abilities of these halogens. The lower Km for brominated compounds therefore originates both from the higher rate of C-Br bond cleavage and from a lower Ks for bromo-compounds. However, the rate-determining step in the conversion (kcat) of 1, 2-dibromoethane and 1,2-dichloroethane was found to be release of the charged halide ion out of the active site cavity, explaining the different Km but similar kcat values for these compounds. The study provides a basis for the analysis of rate-determining steps in the hydrolysis of various environmentally important substrates.

Kinetics of halide release of haloalkane dehalogenase: evidence for a slow conformational change

Haloalkane dehalogenase converts haloalkanes to their corresponding alcohols and halides. The reaction mechanism involves the formation of a covalent alkyl-enzyme complex which is hydrolyzed by water. The active site is a hydrophobic cavity buried between the main domain and the cap domain of the enzyme. The enzyme has a broad substrate specificity, but the kcat values of the enzyme for the best substrates 1,2-dichloroethane and 1,2-dibromoethane are rather low (3 and 3.5 s-1, respectively). Stopped-flow fluorescence experiments with substrate under single-turnover conditions indicated that halide release could limit the overall kcat. Furthermore, at 5mM 1,2-dibromoethane the observed rate of substrate binding to free enzyme was faster than 700 s-1 (within the dead time of the stopped-flow instrument) whereas displacement of halide by 5mM 1,2-dibromoethane occurred at a rate of only 8 s-1. The binding of bromide and chloride to free enzyme was also studied using stopped-flow fluorescence, and the dependence of kobs on the halide concentration suggested that there were two parallel routes for halide binding. One route, in which a slow enzyme isomerization is followed by rapid halide binding, was predominant at low halide concentrations. The other route involves rapid binding into an initial collision complex followed by a slow enzyme isomerization step and prevailed at higher halide concentrations. The overall rate of halide release was low and limited by a slow enzyme isomerization preceding actual release (9 and 14.5 s-1 for bromide and chloride, respectively). We propose that this slow isomerization is a conformational change in the cap domain that is necessary to allow water to enter and solvate the halide ion. A solvent kinetic isotope effect of 2H2O was found both on kcat and on the rate of halide release. 2H2O mainly affected the rate of the conformational change, which is in agreement with this step being rate-limiting and the overall stabilizing effect of 2H2O on the conformation of proteins.

A new Salmonella typhimurium NM5004 strain expressing rat glutathione S-transferase 5-5: use in detection of genotoxicity of dihaloalkanes using an SOS/umu test system

The Escherichia coli mu operon was subcloned into a pKK233-2 vector containing rat glutathione S-transferase (GST) 5-5 cDNA and the plasmid thus obtained was introduced into Salmonella typhimurium TA1535. The newly developed strain S.typhimurium NM5004, was found to have 52-fold greater GST activity than the original umu strain S.typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002. We compared sensitivities of these two tester strains, NM5004 and TA1535/pSK1002, for induction of umuC gene expression with several dihaloalkanes which are activated or inactivated by GST 5-5 activity. The induction of umuC gene expression by these chemicals was monitored by measuring the cellular beta-galactosidase activity produced by umuC"lacZ fusion gene in these two tester strains. Ethylene dibromide, 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and methylene dichloride induced umuC gene expression more strongly in the NM5004 strain than the original strain. 4-Nitroquinoline 1-oxide and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine were found to induce umuC gene expression to similar extents in both strains. In the case of 1-nitropyrene and 2-nitrofluorene, however, NM5004 strain showed weaker umuC gene expression responses than the original TA1535/pSK1002 strain. 1,2-Epoxy-3-(4'-nitrophenoxy)propane, a known substrate for GST 5-5, was found to inhibit umuC induction caused by 1-bromo-2-chloroethane. These results indicate that this new tester NM5004 strain expressing a mammalian GST theta class enzyme may be useful for studies of environmental chemicals proposed to be activated or inactivated by GST activity.

Cytochrome P450 catalyzed metabolism of 1,2-dibromoethane in liver microsomes of differentially induced rats

The cytochrome P450 (P450) catalyzed oxidation of 1,2-dibromoethane (1,2-DBE) to 2-bromoacetaldehyde (2-BA) was measured in liver microsomes of both control and differentially induced rats. 2-BA formation was quantified by derivatization of 2-BA with adenosine (ADO), resulting in the formation of the highly fluorescent 1,N6-ethenoadenosine (epsilon-ADO), which was measured by HPLC. After microsomal incubation with 1,2DBE in the presence of ADO and removal of proteins by denaturation and centrifugation, derivatization by heating 4 h at 65 degrees C appeared necessary to ensure efficient formation of epsilon-ADO. Using this optimized derivatization method to quantitate 2-BA formation, the enzyme kinetics of the P450 catalyzed oxidation of 1,2-DBE to 2-BA were measured in liver microsomes prepared from untreated rats and rats pretreated with phenobarbital (PB), beta-naphtoflavone (beta NF) and pyrazole (PYR). P450 isoenzymes in PYR- and beta NF-induced microsomes showed linear enzyme kinetics while P450 isoenzymes in control and PB-induced microsomes showed non-linear enzyme kinetics. The apparent Vmax- and Km- values for the metabolism of 1,2-DBE to 2-BA were 2.5 nmol/min/mg protein and 144 microns for P450 isoenzymes in PYR-induced microsomes and 773 pmol/min/mg protein and 3.3 mM for P450 isoenzymes in beta NF-induced microsomes, respectively. Due to the non-linear enzyme kinetics of the P450 catalyzed oxidation of 1,2-DBE to 2-BA using control and PB-induced microsomes, no proper Vmax- and Km- values could be calculated. However, from Michaelis-Menten plots it was clear that the affinity of P450 isoenzymes for 1,2-DBE in control and PB-induced microsomes was in the same range when compared to beta NF-induced microsomes and thus much lower than the PYR-induced microsomes.

Ethanol-induced potentiation of rat hepatocyte damage due to 1,2-dibromoethane

Low amounts of 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE), not able per se to exert pro-oxidant and cytotoxic activity on rat hepatocyte suspensions, become effective when administered with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), due to impairment of the glutathione transferase detoxication pathway by CCl4. Treatment of rats with a single dose of ethanol (2.5 g/kg body wt) 2 h before liver cell isolation potentiates the effect of DBE alone on both malonaldehyde formation and lactate dehydrogenase release by the hepatocyte. The potentiation of the DBE effects by ethanol may be through a series of mechanisms, such as a strong inactivation of hepatocyte glutathione transferase similar to that caused by CCl4, an increased basal level of lipid peroxidation and a significant loss of total glutathione.

Glutathione S-transferase mediated detoxification and bioactivation of xenobiotics during early human pregnancy

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) with activity towards CDNB as a substrate from human intrauterine conceptual tissues (HICT) at 6-10 weeks of gestation was purified approximately 200-fold by GSH coupled Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. The preparations of affinity purified HICT-GST were used in all the experiments. There was no significant difference in specific activity of GST towards CDNB among 6-, 8- and 10-week-old HICT. GST specific activity decreased with an increase in the gestational age using p-nitrobenzyl chloride and 3,4-dichloro-1-nitrobenzene as the second substrate. Similarly, the lower the gestational age, the higher was the degree of GST mediated ethylene dibromide (EDB) conjugation with GSH. Covalent binding of [14C]EDB to DNA and protein was greater in the presence of HICT-GST at 6 weeks gestation than that at 10 weeks gestation. These results suggest that HICT possess a significant amount of GST capable of detoxification or activation of xenobiotics during the critical organogenesis period.

Free radical reductive degradation of vic-dibromoalkanes and reaction of bromine atoms with polyunsaturated fatty acids: possible involvement of Br(.) in the 1,2-dibromoethane-induced lipid peroxidation

Bromine atoms generated upon reductive degradation of 1,2-dibromoethane and various other vic-dibromoalkanes have been shown to react with polyunsaturated fatty acids via both abstraction of bisallylic hydrogen and addition to the double bonds. The abstraction process occurs with 53, 68, and 77% efficiency from linoleic (18:2), linolenic (18:3), and arachidonic acid (20:4), respectively. The corresponding absolute rate constants have been evaluated to be 1.2 x 10(9), 1.8 x 10(9), and 5.1 x 10(9) M-1 s-1 for these three polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The rate constants for the bromine atom addition reaction appear to be very similar for all PUFAs and have been determined to (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(9) M-1 s-1. Absolute rate constants in the order of 10(5)-10(6) s-1 have also been measured for the bromine atom elimination from various beta-bromoalkyl radicals. The results render bromine atoms a potential initiator for lipid peroxidation, and their reactions may well provide an important chemical basis for the overall toxic action of 1,2-dibromoethane and related substrates.

Molecular mechanisms of dibromoalkane cytotoxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes

The cytotoxicity of dibromoalkanes to isolated hepatocytes was proportional to the dibromoalkane concentration and increasing chain length of the dibromoalkane (C2-C6). The rapid hepatocyte glutathione (GSH) depletion which occurred upon addition of the dibromoalkanes was also dependent on the concentration and chain length of the dibromoalkane. When added to hepatocytes, dibromoalkanes also caused a loss in protein sulfhydryl groups. After a lag period, lipid peroxidation occurred before the onset of cytotoxicity. Antioxidants or removing the oxygen from the medium markedly delayed dibromoalkane cytotoxicity. Bromoaldehydic metabolites formed by cytochrome P450-dependent mixed-function oxidases were probably responsible for lipid peroxidation as deuterated 1,2-dibromoethane (d4-DBE) induced less lipid peroxidation and was less cytotoxic even though GSH was depleted as rapidly and as effectively. Hepatocytes were also more resistant to dibromoalkanes if cytochrome P450 isoenzymes were inactivated with SKF 525A or methyl pyrazole. Furthermore, hepatocyte susceptibility to dibromoalkanes was increased markedly if aldehyde dehydrogenase was inactivated with disulfiram, cyanamide or chloral hydrate. Cytochrome P450-induced hepatocytes isolated from pyrazole-, phenobarbital- or 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats were also more susceptible to dibromoalkanes. These results suggest that dibromoalkane-induced cell lysis is due to lipid peroxidation as well as cytochrome P450-dependent formation of toxic bromoaldehydic metabolites which can bind with cellular macromolecules. Dibromoethane GSH conjugates also contribute to DBE cytotoxicity as depleting hepatocyte GSH beforehand increased hepatocyte resistance to DBE but not other dibromoalkanes.

Rat hepatic glutathione S-transferase-mediated embryotoxic bioactivation of ethylene dibromide

The embryotoxic effects of ethylene dibromide (EDB) bioactivation, mediated by purified rat liver glutathione S-transferases (GST), were investigated using rat embryos in culture. Significant EDB metabolism was observed with rat liver GST purified by affinity chromatography (specific activity of 188 +/- 11.3 nmol/min/mg protein). The reaction was enzymatic in nature and the conjugation rate was proportional to the concentration of EDB (up to 0.75 mM) and the enzyme present in the reaction medium. EDB activation by 100 units (1 unit = 1 nmol of glutathione consumed per min) of purified rat liver GST caused a significant reduction in general development as measured by crown-rump length, yolk sac diameter, somite number, and the composite score for different morphological parameters (Brown and Fabro methodology). Structures most significantly affected were the central nervous and olfactory systems as well as the yolk sac circulation and allantois. The results of this study clearly indicate that under in vitro conditions, bioactivation of EDB by GST can lead to embryotoxicity.

Bioactivation of halogenated hydrocarbons by rabbit pulmonary cells

1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis (4'-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDD), 1,2-dibromoethane (DBE) and trichloroethylene are three halogenated hydrocarbons that selectively bind to pulmonary epithelial cells and that may be pneumotoxic. The susceptibility of pulmonary cells and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of these compounds were evaluated using enriched subpopulations of isolated rabbit lung cells incubated with DDD, DBE, and trichloroethylene. These chlorinated and brominated hydrocarbons were studied to evaluate their ability to induce selective pneumotoxicity by their bioactivation in three cell types, i.e. Clara cells, alveolar type II cells, and alveolar macrophages. Evidence of cytochrome P-450 bioactivation was assessed by utilizing the suicide inhibitor, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT) to ameliorate cytotoxicity. DDD, DBE and trichloroethylene were cytotoxic to Clara cells, type II cells and alveolar macrophages and the order of cell susceptibility to DDD was Clara > type II > macrophages. DBE and trichloroethylene were nonselectively cytotoxic. ABT reduced the cytotoxic effects of DDD and DBE in Clara cells. These studies indicated that all three compounds were toxic to isolated lung cells and that bioactivation of DDD and DBE in rabbit Clara cells to a cytotoxic intermediate was mediated, at least in part, by cytochrome P-450 oxidation.