Hydrogen-Induced Conversion of SnS2 into SnS or Sn: A Route to Create SnS2 /SnS Heterostructures.

The family of van der Waals (vdW) materials is large and diverse with applications ranging from electronics and optoelectronics to catalysis and chemical storage. However, despite intensive research, there remains significant knowledge-gaps pertaining to their properties and interactions. One such gap is the interaction between these materials and hydrogen, a potentially vital future energy vector and ubiquitous processing gas in the semiconductor industry. This work reports on the interaction of hydrogen with the vdW semiconductor SnS2 , where molecular hydrogen (H2 ) and H-ions induce a controlled chemical conversion into semiconducting-SnS or to ß-Sn. This hydrogen-driven reaction is facilitated by the different oxidation states of Sn and is successfully applied to form SnS2 /SnS heterostructures with uniform layers, atomically flat interfaces and well-aligned crystallographic axes. This approach is scalable and offers a route for engineering materials at the nanoscale for semiconductor technologies based on the earth-abundant elements Sn and S, a promising result for a wide range of potential applications.

The Interaction of Hydrogen with the van der Waals Crystal γ-InSe.

The emergence of the hydrogen economy requires development in the storage, generation and sensing of hydrogen. The indium selenide ( γ -InSe) van der Waals (vdW) crystal shows promise for technologies in all three of these areas. For these applications to be realised, the fundamental interactions of InSe with hydrogen must be understood. Here, we present a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study on the interaction of γ -InSe with hydrogen. It is shown that hydrogenation of γ -InSe by a Kaufman ion source results in a marked quenching of the room temperature photoluminescence signal and a modification of the vibrational modes of γ -InSe, which are modelled by density functional theory simulations. Our experimental and theoretical studies indicate that hydrogen is incorporated into the crystal preferentially in its atomic form. This behaviour is qualitatively different from that observed in other vdW crystals, such as transition metal dichalcogenides, where molecular hydrogen is intercalated in the vdW gaps of the crystal, leading to the formation of "bubbles" for hydrogen storage.

A Method to Detect Differential Gene expression in Cross-Species Hybridization Experiments at Gene and Probe Level.

MOTIVATION: Whole genome microarrays are increasingly becoming the method of choice to study responses in model organisms to disease, stressors or other stimuli. However, whole genome sequences are available for only some model organisms, and there are still many species whose genome sequences are not yet available. Cross-species studies, where arrays developed for one species are used to study gene expression in a closely related species, have been used to address this gap, with some promising results. Current analytical methods have included filtration of some probes or genes that showed low hybridization activities. But consensus filtration schemes are still not available. RESULTS: A novel masking procedure is proposed based on currently available target species sequences to filter out probes and study a cross-species data set using this masking procedure and gene-set analysis. Gene-set analysis evaluates the association of some priori defined gene groups with a phenotype of interest. Two methods, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and Test of Test Statistics (ToTS) were investigated. The results showed that masking procedure together with ToTS method worked well in our data set. The results from an alternative way to study cross-species hybridization experiments without masking are also presented. We hypothesize that the multi-probes structure of Affymetrix microarrays makes it possible to aggregate the effects of both well-hybridized and poorly-hybridized probes to study a group of genes. The principles of gene-set analysis were applied to the probe-level data instead of gene-level data. The results showed that ToTS can give valuable information and thus can be used as a powerful technique for analyzing cross-species hybridization experiments. AVAILABILITY: Software in the form of R code is available at http://anson.ucdavis.edu/~ychen/cross-species.html. SUPPLEMENTARY DATA: Supplementary data are available at http://anson.ucdavis.edu/~ychen/cross-species.html.

Applying imaging ToF-SIMS and PCA in differentiation of tissue types.

Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) has proven to be an extremely powerful tool for characterizing chemical distributions within biological cells and tissues. However, differentiating biological samples, e.g., cancerous cells from their normal counterparts or benign tissues from malignant tissues, presents unique challenges to ToF-SIMS. Repeatable differentiation of such samples, especially formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) histological specimens, could be used to improve tissue-based diagnosis and aid in prognosis decisions. In this chapter, we describe a strategy for characterizing and differentiating FFPE tissues. ToF-SIMS was used to image deparaffinized FFPE mouse embryos and differentiate tissue types. The robustness and repeatability of the method was determined by analyzing ten tissue slices from three different embryos over a period of 1 month. Using principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the spectral data generated by ToF-SIMS, histopathologically identified tissue types of the mouse embryos can be differentiated based on the characteristic differences in their mass spectra.

Preparation of single cells for imaging/profiling mass spectrometry.

Characterizing chemical changes within individual cells is important for determining fundamental mechanisms of biological processes that will lead to new biological insights and improved disease understanding. Analyzing biological systems with imaging and profiling mass spectrometry (MS) has gained popularity in recent years as a method for creating chemical maps of biological samples. To obtain mass spectra that provide relevant molecular information about individual cells, samples must be prepared so that salts and other cell culture components are removed from the cell surface and that the cell contents are rendered accessible to the desorption beam. We have designed a cellular preparation protocol for imaging/profiling MS that removes the majority of the interfering species derived from the cellular growth medium, preserves the basic morphology of the cells, and allows chemical profiling of the diffusible elements of the cytosol. Using this method, we are able to reproducibly analyze cells from three diverse cell types: MCF7 human breast cancer cells, Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, and NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblasts. This preparation technique makes possible routine imaging/profiling MS analysis of individual cultured cells, allowing for understanding of molecular processes within individual cells.

A comprehensive investigation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) metabolism in the mouse using a multivariate data analysis approach.

2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is a potent rodent carcinogen and a potential human carcinogen because of its existence in the normal human diet. N2-OH-PhIP, a major PhIP metabolite, has been identified as a precursor of genotoxic species. In vitro data supported the view that CYP1A2 is the major enzyme responsible for the formation of N2-OH-PhIP. However, disruption of the CYP1A2 gene in mouse failed to inhibit PhIP-induced carcinogenesis. To investigate the mechanism underlying this observation, the metabolism of PhIP in wild-type, Cyp1a2-null, and CYP1A2-humanized mice was examined in detail using a metabolomic approach. Following data acquisition in a high-resolution LC-MS system, urinary metabolomes of the control and PhIP-treated mice were characterized in a principal component analysis (PCA) model. Comprehensive metabolite profiles of PhIP in high dose (10 mg/kg) and low dose (100 microg/kg) were established through analyzing urinary ions contributing to the separation of three mouse lines in the multivariate model and by measuring radiolabled PhIP metabolite in a radio-HPLC assay, respectively. The genotoxicity of PhIP to three mouse lines was evaluated by measuring DNA adduction levels in liver, lung, colon, and mammary gland. On the basis of the chemical identities of 17 urinary PhIP metabolites, including eight novel metabolites, multivariate data analysis revealed the role of CYP1A2 in PhIP metabolism and a human-mouse interspecies difference in the catalytic activity of CYP1A2. In addition, the results also showed that Cyp1a2-null mice still possess significant N2-hydroxylation and DNA adduction activities, which may be partially attributed to mouse CYP2C enzymes according to the results from in vitro microsome and Supersome incubations and antibody inhibition experiments.

Identification of 2-amino-1,7-dimethylimidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline: an abundant mutagenic heterocyclic aromatic amine formed in cooked beef.

A previously unknown isomer of the carcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amine (HAA) 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (8-MeIQx) was recently discovered in the urine of meat eaters and subsequently detected in cooked ground beef (Holland, R.D., et al. (2004) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 17, 1121-1136). In this current investigation, the identity of the analyte was determined through a comparison of its chromatographic tR by HPLC and through UV and mass spectral comparisons to the synthesized isomers of 8-MeIQx. Angular tricyclic isomers of 8-MeIQx were excluded as potential structures of the newly discovered HAA, on the basis of dissimilar tR and product ion mass spectral data. The linear tricyclic isomers 2-amino-1,6-dimethylimidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline (6-MeIgQx) and 2-amino-1,7-dimethylimidazo[4,5-g]quinoxaline (7-MeIgQx) were postulated as plausible structures. Both compounds were synthesized from 4-fluoro-5-nitro-benzene-1,2-diamine in five steps. The structure of the analyte was proven to be 7-MeIgQx, on the basis of co-injection of the compound with the synthetic isomers, and corroborated by comparisons of the UV and mass spectral data of the analyte and MeIgQx isomers. 7-MeIgQx induced 348 revertants/microg in the S. typhimurium tester strain YG1024, when liver S-9 homogenate of rats pretreated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used for bioactivation. This newly discovered 7-MeIgQx molecule is one of the most abundant HAAs formed in cooked ground beef patties and pan-fried scrapings. The human health risk of 7-MeIgQx requires investigation.

Mouse lung CYP1A1 catalyzes the metabolic activation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP).

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) carcinogenesis is initiated by N(2)-hydroxylation, mediated by several cytochromes P450, including CYP1A1. However, the role of CYP1A1 in PhIP metabolic activation in vivo is unclear. In this study, Cyp1a1-null and wild-type (WT) mice were used to investigate the potential role of CYP1A1 in PhIP metabolic activation in vivo. PhIP N(2)-hydroxylation was actively catalyzed by lung homogenates of WT mice, at a rate of 14.9 +/- 5.0 pmol/min/g tissue, but <1 pmol/min/g tissue in stomach and small intestine, and almost undetectable in mammary gland and colon. PhIP N(2)-hydroxylation catalyzed by lung homogenates of Cyp1a1-null mice was approximately 10-fold lower than that of WT mice. In contrast, PhIP N(2)-hydroxylation activity in lung homogenates of Cyp1a2-null versus WT mice was not decreased. Pretreatment with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin increased lung Cyp1a1 mRNA and lung homogenate PhIP N(2)-hydroxylase activity approximately 50-fold in WT mice, where the activity was substantially inhibited (70%) by monoclonal antibodies against CYP1A1. In vivo, 30 min after oral treatment with PhIP, PhIP levels in lung were similar to those in liver. After a single dose of 0.1 mg/kg [(14)C]PhIP, lung PhIP-DNA adduct levels in Cyp1a1-null mice, but not in Cyp1a2-null mice, were significantly lower (P = 0.0028) than in WT mice. These results reveal that mouse lung has basal and inducible PhIP N(2)-hydroxylase activity predominantly catalyzed by CYP1A1. Because of the high inducibility of human CYP1A1, especially in cigarette smokers, the role of lung CYP1A1 in PhIP carcinogenesis should be considered. (237 words).

Mutagenic potency of food-derived heterocyclic amines.

The understanding of mutagenic potency has been primarily approached using "quantitative structure-activity relationships" (QSAR). Often this method allows the prediction of mutagenic potency of the compound based on its structure. But it does not give the underlying reason why the mutagenic activities differ. We have taken a set of heterocyclic amine structures and used molecular dynamic calculations to dock these molecules into the active site of a computational model of the cytochrome P4501A2 enzyme. The calculated binding strength using Boltzman distribution constants was then compared to the QSAR value (HF/6-31G* optimized structures) and the Ames/Salmonella mutagenic potency. Further understanding will only come from knowing the complete set of mutagenic determinants. These include the nitrenium ion half-life, DNA adduct half-life, efficiency of repair of the adduct, and ultimately fixation of the mutation through cellular processes. For two isomers, PhIP and 3-Me-PhIP, we showed that for the 100-fold difference in the mutagenic potency a 5-fold difference can be accounted for by differences in the P450 oxidation. The other factor of 20 is not clearly understood but is downstream from the oxidation step. The application of QSAR (chemical characteristics) to biological principles related to mutagenesis is explored in this report.

The urinary metabolite profile of the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine is predictive of colon DNA adducts after a low-dose exposure in humans.

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that exposure to heterocyclic amines in the diet is an important risk factor for the development of colon cancer. Well-done cooked meats contain significant levels of heterocyclic amines, which have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. To better understand the mechanisms of heterocyclic amine bioactivation in humans, the most mass abundant heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), was used to assess the relationship between PhIP metabolism and DNA adduct formation. Ten human volunteers where administered a dietary relevant dose of [(14)C]PhIP 48 to 72 hours before surgery to remove colon tumors. Urine was collected for 24 hours after dosing for metabolite analysis, and DNA was extracted from colon tissue and analyzed by accelerator mass spectrometry for DNA adducts. All 10 subjects were phenotyped for cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2), N-acetyltransferase 2, and sulfotransferase 1A1 enzyme activity. Twelve PhIP metabolites were detected in the urine samples. The most abundant metabolite in all volunteers was N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide. Metabolite levels varied significantly between the volunteers. Interindividual differences in colon DNA adducts levels were observed between each individual. The data showed that individuals with a rapid CYP1A2 phenotype and high levels of urinary N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide had the lowest level of colon PhIP-DNA adducts. This suggests that glucuronidation plays a significant role in detoxifying N-hydroxy-PhIP. The levels of urinary N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide were negatively correlated to colon DNA adduct levels. Although it is difficult to make definite conclusions from a small data set, the results from this pilot study have encouraged further investigations using a much larger study group.

A meat and potato war: implications for cancer etiology.

Cooking foods clearly has a beneficial impact for humans; the microbial content can be decreased, proteins made more digestible and the flavor and texture improved. But at the same time, amino acids, creatine and sugars, which occur naturally in meats, may be involved in reactions that generate heterocyclic amine (HA) carcinogens during cooking. Recently, another amine carcinogen, acrylamide, was found at relatively high levels in cooked carbohydrate-rich foods, especially potatoes. In this commentary acrylamide will be compared with the meat carcinogens (HAs) with respect to formation, human intake and health consequences--it's a meat and potato war. What conclusion about risks from these dietary carcinogens can we make from the available scientific data?

Insights into the o-acetylation reaction of hydroxylated heterocyclic amines by human arylamine N-acetyltransferases: a computational study.

A computational study was performed to better understand the differences between human arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT) 1 and 2. Homology models were constructed from available crystal structures, and comparisons of the active site residues 125, 127, and 129 for these two enzymes provide insight into observed substrate differences. The NAT2 model provided a basis for understanding how some of the common polymorphisms may affect the structure of this protein. Molecular dynamics simulations of the human NAT models and the template structure (NAT from Mycobacterium smegmatis) were performed and showed the models to be stable and reasonable. Docking studies of hydroxylated heterocyclic amines in the models of NAT1 and NAT2 probed the differences exhibited by these two proteins with mutagenic agents. The hydroxylated heterocyclic amines were only able to fit into the NAT2 active site, and an alternative binding site by the phosphate-binding loop was found using our models and will be discussed. Quantum mechanical calculations on the O-acetylation reaction of the hydroxylated heterocyclic amines N-OH MeIQx and N-OH PhIP show that the reaction coordinates differ for these two compounds, but the activation barrier separating the reactant from the product are both low. The results of this study suggest that common polymorphisms in human NAT2 are distant from the active site and are more likely to destabilize the enzyme than affect catalysis. Additionally, the quantum mechanical calculations show that the observed differences in mutagenic activity between N-OH MeIQx and N-OH PhIP are not related to their acetylation reaction with NAT.

Chemical and biological differentiation of three human breast cancer cell types using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry.

We use time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) to image and classify individual cells on the basis of their characteristic mass spectra. Using statistical data reduction on the large data sets generated during TOF-SIMS analysis, similar biological materials can be differentiated on the basis of a combination of small changes in protein expression, metabolic activity and cell structure. We apply this powerful technique to image and differentiate three carcinoma-derived human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231). In homogenized cells, we show the ability to differentiate the cell types as well as cellular compartments (cytosol, nuclear, and membrane). These studies illustrate the capacity of TOF-SIMS to characterize individual cells by chemical composition, which could ultimately be applied to detect and identify single aberrant cells within a normal cell population. Ultimately, we anticipate characterizing rare chemical changes that may provide clues to single cell progression within carcinogenic and metastatic pathways.

The impact of glucuronidation on the bioactivation and DNA adduction of the cooked-food carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in vivo.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) catalyze the glucuronidation of many different chemicals. Glucuronidation is especially important for detoxifying reactive intermediates from metabolic reactions, which otherwise can be biotransformed into highly reactive cytotoxic or carcinogenic species. Detoxification of certain food-borne-carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HAs) is highly dependent on UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most mass abundant carcinogenic HA found in well-done cooked meat, is extensively glucuronidated by UGT1A proteins. In humans, CYP1A2 catalyzed N-hydroxylation and subsequent UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation is a dominant pathway in the metabolism of PhIP. Therefore, changes in glucuronidation rates could significantly alter PhIP metabolism. To determine the importance of UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation in the biotransformation of PhIP, hepatic UGT1A deficient Gunn and UGT1A proficient Wistar rats were exposed to a 100 microg/kg oral dose of [(14)C]PhIP. Urine was collected over 24 h and the PhIP urinary metabolite profiles were compared between the two strains. After the 24 h exposure, livers and colons were removed and analyzed for DNA adduct formation by accelerator mass spectrometry. Wistar rats produced several PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronides that accounted for approximately 25% of the total amount of recovered urinary metabolites. In the Gunn rats, PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronides were reduced by 68-92%, compared with the Wistar rats. PhIP-DNA adduct analysis from the Gunn rats revealed a correlation between reduced urinary PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronide levels and increased hepatic DNA adducts, compared with the Wistar rats. In the colon, DNA adduct levels were lower in the Gunn rats compared with the Wistar rats, suggesting deficient hepatic UGT1A activity provides protection against DNA adduct formation in peripheral tissue. Due to differences in PhIP metabolism between humans and rodents, extrapolation of these results to the human situation must be done with caution. These results indicate that UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation of PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP is an important pathway for PhIP detoxification, and demonstrate the importance of tissue-specific metabolism. Tissues with reduced UGT1A activity can have a higher rate of PhIP activation and be more inclined to form DNA adducts compared with tissues with normal UGT1A activity.

Formation and human risk of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines formed from natural precursors in meat.

A group of heterocyclic amines that are mutagens and rodent carcinogens form when meat is cooked to medium and well-done states. The precursors of these compounds are natural meat components: creatinine, amino acids, and sugars. Defined model systems of dry-heated precursors mimic the amounts and proportions of heterocyclic amines found in meat. Results from model systems and cooking experiments suggest ways to reduce their formation and, thus, reduce human intake. Human cancer epidemiology studies related to the consumption of well-done meat products are listed and compared in this review.

The effect of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 expression on the mutagenicity and metabolism of the cooked-food carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in CHO cells.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase proteins (UGT) catalyze the glucuronidation of both endogenous and xenobiotic compounds. In previous studies, UGT1A1 has been implicated in the detoxification of certain food-borne carcinogenic-heterocyclic amines. To determine the importance of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) in the biotransformation of the cooked-food carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), genetically modified CHO cells that are nucleotide excision repair-deficient, and express cytochrome P4501A2 (UV5P3 cell line) were transfected with a cDNA plasmid of human UGT1A1 to establish the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 expressing 5P3hUGT1A1 cell line. Expression of the UGT1A1 gene was verified by screening neo gene expressing clonal isolates (G-418 resistant) for their sensitivity to cell killing from PhIP exposure. Five of 11 clones were chosen for further analysis due to their resistance to cell killing. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the presence of the UGT1A1 and CYP1A2 proteins. All five clones displayed a 52-kDa protein band, which corresponded to a UGT1A1 control protein. Only four of the clones had a protein band that corresponded to the CYP1A2 control protein. Correct fragment size of the cDNAs in the remaining four clones was confirmed by RT-PCR and quantification of the mRNA product was accomplished by real-time RT-PCR. Expression of UGT1A1 in the transfected cells was 10(4)-10(5)-fold higher relative to the UV5P3 parental cells. One clone (#14) had a 10-fold higher increase in expression at 1.47 x 10(5) over the other three clones. This clone was also the most active in converting N-hydroxy-PhIP to N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronide conjugates in microsomal metabolism assays. Based on the D50 values, the cytotoxic effect of PhIP was decreased approximately 350-fold in the 5P3hUGT1A1 cells compared to the UV5P3 control cells. In addition, no significant increase in mutation frequency was observed in the transfected cells. These results clearly indicate that UGT1A1 plays a critical role in PhIP biotransformation, providing protection against PhIP-mediated cytotoxicity and mutagenicity.

PhIP carcinogenicity in breast cancer: computational and experimental evidence for competitive interactions with human estrogen receptor.

Many carcinogens have been shown to cause tissue specific tumors in animal models. The mechanism for this specificity has not been fully elucidated and is usually attributed to differences in organ metabolism. For heterocyclic amines, potent carcinogens that are formed in well-done meat, the ability to either bind to the estrogen receptor and activate or inhibit an estrogenic response will have a major impact on carcinogenicity. Here, we describe our work with the human estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha), the mutagenic/carcinogenic heterocyclic amines PhIP, MeIQx, and IFP, and the hydroxylated metabolite of PhIP, N2-hydroxy-PhIP. We demonstrate both by computational docking and NMR analysis that PhIP binds with the ligand binding domain (LBD). This binding competes with estradiol (E2) in the native E2 binding cavity of the receptor. In vitro assays show that PhIP, in contrast to the other heterocyclic amines, increases cell proliferation in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and activates the ERalpha receptor. We also find that other heterocyclic amines and N2-hydroxy-PhIP inhibit ERalpha activation. We propose that the mechanism for the tissue-specific carcinogenicity seen in the rat breast tumors and the presumptive human breast cancer associated with the consumption of well-done meat maybe mediated by this receptor activation.

Environmental and chemical carcinogenesis.

People are continuously exposed exogenously to varying amounts of chemicals that have been shown to have carcinogenic or mutagenic properties in experimental systems. Exposure can occur exogenously when these agents are present in food, air or water, and also endogenously when they are products of metabolism or pathophysiologic states such as inflammation. It has been estimated that exposure to environmental chemical carcinogens may contribute significantly to the causation of a sizable fraction, perhaps a majority, of human cancers, when exposures are related to "life-style" factors such as diet, tobacco use, etc. This chapter summarizes several aspects of environmental chemical carcinogenesis that have been extensively studied and illustrates the power of mechanistic investigation combined with molecular epidemiologic approaches in establishing causative linkages between environmental exposures and increased cancer risks. A causative relationship between exposure to aflatoxin, a strongly carcinogenic mold-produced contaminant of dietary staples in Asia and Africa, and elevated risk for primary liver cancer has been demonstrated through the application of well-validated biomarkers in molecular epidemiology. These studies have also identified a striking synergistic interaction between aflatoxin and hepatitis B virus infection in elevating liver cancer risk. Use of tobacco products provides a clear example of cancer causation by a life-style factor involving carcinogen exposure. Tobacco carcinogens and their DNA adducts are central to cancer induction by tobacco products, and the contribution of specific tobacco carcinogens (e.g. PAH and NNK) to tobacco-induced lung cancer, can be evaluated by a weight of evidence approach. Factors considered include presence in tobacco products, carcinogenicity in laboratory animals, human uptake, metabolism and adduct formation, possible role in causing molecular changes in oncogenes or suppressor genes, and other relevant data. This approach can be applied to evaluation of other environmental carcinogens, and the evaluations would be markedly facilitated by prospective epidemiologic studies incorporating phenotypic carcinogen-specific biomarkers. Heterocyclic amines represent an important class of carcinogens in foods. They are mutagens and carcinogens at numerous organ sites in experimental animals, are produced when meats are heated above 180 degrees C for long periods. Four of these compounds can consistently be identified in well-done meat products from the North American diet, and although a causal linkage has not been established, a majority of epidemiology studies have linked consumption of well-done meat products to cancer of the colon, breast and stomach. Studies employing molecular biomarkers suggest that individuals may differ in their susceptibility to these carcinogens, and genetic polymorphisms may contribute to this variability. Heterocyclic amines, like most other chemical carcinogens, are not carcinogenic per se but must be metabolized by a family of cytochrome P450 enzymes to chemically reactive electrophiles prior to reacting with DNA to initiate a carcinogenic response. These same cytochrome P450 enzymes--as well as enzymes that act on the metabolic products of the cytochromes P450 (e.g. glucuronyl transferase, glutathione S-transferase and others)--also metabolize chemicals by inactivation pathways, and the relative amounts of activation and detoxification will determine whether a chemical is carcinogenic. Because both genetic and environmental factors influence the levels of enzymes that metabolically activate and detoxify chemicals, they can also influence carcinogenic risk. Many of the phenotypes of cancer cells can be the result of mutations, i.e., changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA that accumulate as tumors progress. These can arise as a result of DNA damage or by the incorporation of non-complementary nucleotides during DNA synthetic processes. Based upon the disparity between the infrequency of spontaneous mutations and the large numbers of mutations reported in human tumors, it has been postulated that cancers must exhibit a mutator phenotype, which would represent an early event in cancer progression. A mutator phenotype could be generated by mutations in genes that normally function to guarantee genetic stability. These mutations presumably arise via DNA damage by environmental or endogenous agents, but it remains to be determined whether the acquisition of a mutator phenotype is a necessary event during tumor progression.

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 is the primary enzyme responsible for the N-glucuronidation of N-hydroxy-PhIP in vitro.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A proteins (UGT1A) catalyze the glucuronidation of many endogenous and xenobiotic compounds including heterocyclic amines and their hydroxylated metabolites. Studies have shown that in humans UGT1A-mediated glucuronidation is an important pathway in the detoxification of food-borne carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. The biotransformation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most mass abundant heterocyclic amine found in cooked meats, is highly dependent on cytochrome P4501A2 hydroxylation followed by UGT-catalyzed glucuronidation of the N-hydroxy-PhIP reactive intermediate. To determine which UGT1A proteins are involved in the glucuronidation of N-hydroxy-PhIP, microsomal preparations from baculovirus-infected insect cells that express all of the known functional human UGT1A isozymes (UGT1A1, -1A3, -1A4, -1A6, -1A7, -1A8, -1A9, and -1A10) were exposed to N-hydroxy-PhIP and the reaction products were isolated by HPLC. All UGT1A proteins except UGT1A6 showed some degree of activity toward N-hydroxy-PhIP. The formation of both N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide and N-hydroxy-PhIP-N3-glucuronide was both time- and substrate concentration-dependent. UGT1A1 was the most efficient in converting N-hydroxy-PhIP to both conjugates producing five times more of the N(2)-conjugate than UGT1A4, the next most active UGT, and 286 times more than UGT1A7, the least active UGT. With an apparent K(m) of 52 microM and a K(cat) of 114 min(-)(1), UGT1A1 was also the most catalytically efficient in forming N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide. The catalytic efficiency for N-hydroxy-PhIP-N3-glucuronide formation was 8, 10, and 6 times lower for UGT1A1, -1A4, and -1A8, respectively, when compared to the K(cat) values for N-hydroxy-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide formation. These results clearly show that UGT1A1 has the highest specificity for glucuronidating N-hydroxy-PhIP. Polymorphic expression resulting in decreased UGT1A1 activity in humans can cause reduced rates of glucuronidation, which can change the metabolic ratio between bioactivation and detoxification to favor bioactivation. This change will increase the susceptibility to the deleterious effects from PhIP exposure because the capacity to form nontoxic N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronide conjugates will be diminished.