Metabolites and DNA adduct formation from flavoenzyme-activated porfiromycin.

Porfiromycin was reductively metabolized by NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase and xanthine oxidase under anaerobic conditions. The production of metabolites varied with the pH and the contents of the reaction buffer. In Tris buffer, two major metabolites were produced at pH 7.5 and above, whereas one major metabolite was produced at pH 6.5. The three major metabolites were separated and isolated by HPLC. Identification by californium-252 plasma desorption mass spectrometry showed that the two major metabolites from pH 7.5 were (trans) and (cis)-forms of 7-amino-1-hydroxyl-2-methylaminomitosene and the major metabolite from pH 6.5 was 7-amino-2-methylaminomitosene. All three major metabolites showed substitutions at the C-1 position. DNA was alkylated readily by enzyme-activated porfiromycin. Digestion of porfiromycin-alkylated DNA by DNase, snake venom phosphodiesterase, and alkaline phosphatase resulted in an insoluble nuclease-resistant fraction and a soluble fraction. The nuclease-resistant fraction reflected a high content of cross-linked adducts. Upon HPLC analysis, the solubilized fraction contained two monofunctionally linked porfiromycin adducts and a possibly cross-linked dinucleotide. The major adduct was isolated by HPLC and identified by NMR, as N2-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-7-amino-2-methylaminomitosene. The N2 position of deoxyguanosine appeared as the major monofunctional alkylating site for DNA alkylation by porfiromycin. Thus, mitomycin C and porfiromycin (which differs from mitomycin C only by the addition of a methyl group to the aziridine nitrogen) share the same enzymatic activating mechanism that leads to the formation of the same types of metabolites and the same specificity of DNA alkylation.

DNA alkylation by enzyme-activated mitomycin C.

After anaerobic reductive activation by either NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4) or xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2), mitomycin C readily alkylated DNA. When the mitomycin C-alkylated DNA is digested by DNase, snake venom phosphodiasterase, and alkaline phosphatase, only partial release of the monofunctionally linked mitomycin C nucleotide adduct occurs. Cross-linked adducts are not released into dinucleotides but resist nuclease digestion and remain in oligonucleotides and insoluble precipitates. Kinetic analyses show that the nuclease-resistant fraction which is indicative of DNA cross-linking by mitomycin C takes place quite readily. This nuclease-resistant fraction is particularly significant when the amount of total bound mitomycin C is less than 15 mumol/mmol of DNA. The cross-linked mitomycin C product accounts for more than half of the total alkylation under all pH conditions tested. Our data suggest that particular DNA sites are available for DNA cross-linking by mitomycin C, and these sites are probably the preferred and immediate alkylating targets. Furthermore, DNA cross-links by mitomycin C are not the secondary product of monofunctional adducts. Activity of both flavoenzymes is pH dependent, hence, mitomycin C activation and the rate of DNA alkylation are pH dependent. At elevated mitomycin C alkylation of DNA, the highest amount of cross-linking occurs at neutral pH. High pressure liquid chromatographic separation of the nuclease-digested DNA detected one major and two less prominent mitomycin C adducts. These were verified to be mononucleotide mitosene types by UV spectra showing maximum absorbance at 312 and 250 nm. The major adduct was purified and identified as O6-(2'-deoxyguanosyl)-2,7-diaminomitosene by NMR, indicating that the O6 position of guanine is a preferred site in DNA for at least monofunctional linkage formation.