The lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-
butanone(NNK) is activated toreactive metabolites that methylate or pyridyloxo
butylate DNA.Previous studies demonstratedthat pyridyloxo
butylated DNA interferes with the repair of
O6-methylguanine (
O6-mG)by
O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT). The AGT reactivity ofpyridyloxo
butylated DNAwas attri
buted to (pyridyloxo
butyl)guanine adducts. Onepotential AGT substrate adduct, 2'-deoxy-
O6-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)
butyl]guanosine(
O6-pobdG), was prepared. This adduct wasstableat pH 7.0 for greater than 13 days and to neutral thermal hydrolysisconditions (pH 7.0, 100
C, 30 min). Under mild acid hydrolysis conditions (0.1 N HCl,80
C),
O6-pobdG wasdepurinated to yield
O6-[4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)
butyl]guanine(
O6-pobG).
O6-pobdGwas hydrolyzedto 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-
butanone and guanine under strong acidhydrolysis conditions (0.8N HCl, 80
C).
O6-pobG was detected in0.1 N HCl hydrolysates of DNA alkylated with themodel pyridyloxo
butylating agent4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-[5-
3H]pyridyl)-1-
butanone([5-
3H]NNKOAc). When[5-
3H]NNKOAc-treated DNA was incubated with eitherrat liver orrecombinant human AGT,
O6-pobG was removed,presumably a result of transfer of thepyridyloxo
butyl group from the
O6-position ofguanine to AGT's active site.