In vitro binding of N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene to DNA in chromatin.

The binding of N-acetoxy-N-2-acetylaminofluorene to DNA in native and partially dehistonized chicken erythrocyte chromatin was studied. The amounts of carcinogen bound to DNA were measured, after removal of proteins with phenol, by using the absorption ratio A305/A260 or by counting the radioactivity of 14C-labeled carcinogen. Measurements of uncovered zones of DNA in chromatin were made by comparison of results obtained with free DNA and with chromatin at increasing ratios of carcinogen/nucleotide. The proportion of DNA accessible to the carcinogen was found to be 15% in native chicken erythrocyte chromatin and about 22% in native calf thymus chromatin. The amount of accessible DNA increases to 55% in chicken erythrocyte chromatin depleted of histones H1 and H5. Formaldehyde unwinding performed on DNA extracted from chromatin after modification showed an increasing number of defects in the double helix with the amount of DNA-fixed carcinogen. At high ratios of carcinogen/nucleotide, the recoveries of DNA (by phenol method) and of histones (by acidic extraction) decreased with increasing ratios. This suggests a covalent linkage between proteins and DNA.     

In vitro prostaglandin H synthase- and monooxygenase-mediated binding of aflatoxin B1 to DNA in guinea-pig tissue microsomes

In order to study the mechanism of cancer production by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in extrahepatic tissues which have relatively low cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) activity, we have examined prostaglandin H synthase (PHS)-mediated AFB1 activation [( 3H]AFB1-DNA binding). [3H]AFB1 was activated by both purified PHS and microsomal PHS from guinea-pig kidney and liver, as well as by P450 in lung, kidney and liver microsomes, though P450-mediated [3H]AFB1-DNA binding in lung and liver was much higher than that catalyzed by PHS. Arachidonic acid (AA)-dependent [3H]AFB1-DNA binding could be inhibited by the PHS inhibitor indomethacin (0.1 mM), but was enhanced by the P450 inhibitor SKF-525A (3 mM), confirming that the reaction was independent of P450. Pulmonary PHS-mediated [3H]AFB1--DNA binding was less than 0.1 pmol [3H]AFB1/mg protein/min. HPLC analysis showed only minimal formation of [3H]AFM1 and [3H]AFQ1 by PHS, confirming that the low rate of PHS-dependent [3H]AFB1-DNA adduct formation was not due to conversion of AFB1 to other metabolites by PHS. The omission of AA did not diminish [3H]AFB1-DNA binding. In AA-free incubates, indomethacin inhibited, and SKF-525A enhanced, [3H]AFB1-DNA binding to a similar degree as in complete incubates, indicating that DNA binding in AA-free incubates was catalyzed by PHS. This reaction was also inhibited by 4-bromophenacyl bromide, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, by 92%. These data are consistent with previous reports indicating the ability of AFB1 to stimulate the release of endogenous AA from membranes, presumably by stimulating phospholipase A2 activity, which may lead to enhanced bioactivation of AFB1 by PHS in vivo.     

Comparative kinetic studies on aflatoxin B1- DNA binding and aflatoxin B1-glutathione conjugation with rat and hamster livers in vitro

Inhibition of microsome mediated aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) bindingto exogenous or endogenous DNA by cytosolic glutathione (GSH)S-transferases is well established from our earlier studies.Correlation between inhibition of AFB₁-DNA binding and AFB₁-GSHconjugation in vitro using rat and hamster liver subcellularfractions is elucidated in this report. Even though hamsterliver microsomes catalyzed AFB₁ binding to exogenous DNA threetimes as much as the rat, hamster cytosol inhibited AFB₁-DNAbinding catalyzed by either microsomes severalfold more thanthe rat cytosol. AFB₁ - DNA binding is found to be inverselyrelated to AFB₁-GSH conjugation at all AFB₁ concentrations (2–100µM)studied. Presence of either styrene oxide or 3,3,3-trichloropropeneoxide at 1 mM level diminished AFB₁-GSH formation in vitro confirmingsome competition by these epoxides with AFB₁-epoxide for cytosolicGSH S-transferases. In a reconstituted system with endogenousDNA, the ratio of AFB₁-GSH to AFB₁-DNA binding was found tobe 10–15 times higher with the hamster in comparison withthe rat indicating enhanced inactivation of the ultimate carcinogenicmetabolite in the hamster. These results are discussed in relationto AFB₁-DNA binding and AFB₁ hepatocardnogenicity in resistantand sensitive species.     

In vitro activation of the human Harvey-ras proto-oncogene by aflatoxin B1

Activation of ras proto-oncogenes occurs frequently in vivo in chemically induced rodent tumours, including rat hepatomas induced by aflatoxin B1. This study examines the in vitro activation of a human ras gene by this mycotoxin. A plasmid containing the human Ha-ras proto- oncogene, together with a neomycin resistance gene (pECneo), was incubated in vitro with a microsomal system generating aflatoxin B1 8,9- epoxide. Subsequent transfection of the plasmid into mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, followed by G418 selection and s.c. injection of surviving cells into immunodeficient mice demonstrated that the proto-oncogene had acquired transforming capacity. Although a single tumour resulted from similar treatment of incubated unconjugated plasmid, no tumours were produced by a secondary round of transfections using DNA from this tumour. Selective PCR amplification of the human Ha-ras gene in extracted tumour DNA followed by sequencing demonstrated the presence of G-->T transversions either at the first or middle base of codon 12 in tumours resulting from transfection with the aflatoxin-B1-modified pECneo plasmid, but this was not detected in the single tumour resulting from transfection with the unmodified plasmid. Thus, although a mutation in the Ha-ras gene has not been reported for human primary hepatomas occurring in aflatoxin-exposed populations, metabolically activated aflatoxin B1 is capable of mutating this proto-oncogene to its oncogenic form in vitro. No mutations were observed in codon 61. It appears that, in contrast to the frequently reported G-->T transversions in codon 249 of the p53 gene in primary hepatomas in aflatoxin-exposed humans, the failure to detect Ha-ras mutations in these tumours is not due to an inability of aflatoxin B1 to activate this proto-oncogene. The G-->T transversions observed in this study contrast with the most frequent aflatoxin B1 in vivo induced mutations, G-->A transitions in the rat Ki-ras gene. Possible mechanisms for these differences are discussed.      

Comparison of human and rat hepatocyte metabolism and mutagenic activation of 2-acetylaminofluorene

A method has been developed to assess the metabolism and mutagenic activation of carcinogens using human and rodent hepatocytes in vitro. A slicing technique which was especially useful for nonperfusable biopsy and resected surgical human liver tissue was used to prepare the hepatocytes. Metabolites of the model carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) produced by human and rat hepatocytes were similar and consisted primarily of 2-aminofluorene with ring hydroxylated products at the 1-, 3-, 5/9-, 7-, and 8-positions produced in addition to N-hydroxy-AAF. Sulphate and glucuronide conjugates of ring-hydroxylated metabolites and 2-aminofluorene were detected. Metabolism and cell-mediated Salmonella mutagenicity illustrated interindividual variation with human hepatocytes. Levels of metabolism and mutagenesis were generally higher with human hepatocytes compared to rat hepatocyte results. The increased levels of metabolism and mutagenesis of AAF by human hepatocytes compared to rat hepatocytes probably indicates a different sensitivity to hepatocarcinogenic effects of AAF on humans as compared to rats. Understanding differences and similarities between human and rodent carcinogen activation capabilities should be useful in the extrapolation of rodent carcinogenesis data to humans.     

Linear dose-response relationship for DNA adducts in rat liver from chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1

Male F-344 rats were given [³H]aflatoxin B₁ (AFB ₁) in the drinkingwater at three exposure levels (0.02, 0.6, 20 µg/l, resultingin average dose levels of 2.2, 73, 2110 ng/kg per day). After4, 6 and 8 weeks, DNA was isolated from the livers and analyzedfor aflatoxin- DNA adducts. The level of DNA adducts did notincrease significantly after 4 weeks, indicating that a steady-statefor adduct formation and removal had nearly been reached. At8 weeks, the adduct levels were 0.91, 32 and 850 nucleotide-aflatoxinadducts per 10⁹ nucleotides, i.e. clearly proportional ot thedose. At the high dose level, a near 50% tumor incidence wouldbe expected in a 2-year bioassay with F-344 rats while the lowdose used is within the range of estimated human dietary exposuresto aflatoxin in Western countries. The proportionality seenbetween exposure and steady-state DNA adduct level is discussedwith respect to a linear extrapolation of the turnor risk tolow dose.     

Comparative ultrastructural effects of aflatoxin B1 on mouse, rat, and human hepatocytes in primary culture

Human, rat, and mouse hepatocytes in primary culture were treated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and examined for ultrastructural alterations. As early as 1 h following in vitro exposure to AFB1, there were ultrastructural changes in the nuclei of rat and human hepatocytes. The most prominent change in the nuclei was a segregation of nucleolar components that resembled the segregation in liver cells of rats exposed to AFB1 in vivo. The nucleolar segregations were developed by incubating rat hepatocytes for 24 h in a medium containing as little as 0.01 micrograms of AFB1 per ml. The minimum concentration to induce the same change in human hepatocytes was 0.1 micrograms/ml. No distinct nucleolar alteration was observed in mouse hepatocytes incubated in a medium containing 10 micrograms of AFB1 per ml. Irregular nuclear chromatin condensation also developed in the cells exposed to a higher concentration of AFB1, whereas little damage was observed in mitochondria and lysosomes. The similarity in morphological changes between our in vitro model and in vivo models previously investigated indicates that the hepatocytes in primary culture maintain the biological properties necessary for carcinogen responses similar to liver cells in vivo. In addition, the morphological changes in cultured rat and mouse hepatocytes induced by AFB1 correlate with in vivo experiments insofar as mice are relatively resistant, whereas rats are sensitive to AFB1 carcinogenesis. Thus, cultured hepatocyte systems may be a valuable tool to study genetic damage which may lead to hepatocellular carcinomas in human and animal livers.     

Effect of diet and route of administration on the DNA binding of aflatoxin B1 in the rat

The effects of dietary Brussels sprouts and indole-3-carbinol(I3C) on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme activities and hepaticaflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁)-DNA binding were detennined in rats. Animalswere dosed intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intragastrically (i.g.)with [³H]AFB₁ and killed 2 (i.p.) or 3 (i.g.) h later. Brusselssprouts caused a significant (P < 0.01) 50–60% decreasein hepatic AFB₁ binding, and increased hepatic and intestinalglutathione S-transferase (GST) activities. Hepatic mono-oxygenase(AHH and ECD) activities were not altered in sprouts-fed rats,but >2-fold increases in intestinal AHH and ECD activitieswere found. Although I3C increased intestinal AHH and ECD activitiessimilarly to Brussels sprouts, I3C did not significantly decreaseAFB₁ binding, nor did it increase hepatic or intestinal GSTactivity. Route of administration did not alter the percentageinhibition of binding in comparison to control rats in eithertreatment group, suggesting that the small intestine may notplay a significant role in the metabolism of AFB₁. In a secondexperiment, rats were dosed either i.p. or i.g. with [³H]AEB₁and killed 2, 6, 12, 24 or 48 h later. Hepatic AFB₁-DNA bindingand tissue radioactivity levels were determined. Brussels sproutsonce again significantly (P<0.001) decreased hepatic AFB₁-DNAbinding. Route of administration of the carcinogen did not affectDNA binding over time in sprouts-fed animals, confirming ourprevious results.     

Inhibition of microsome-mediated binding of aflatoxin B1 to DNA by glutathione S-transferase

Hamster liver microsome-mediated [¹⁴C]aflatoxin B₁ binding to DNA is inhibited by 105,000 × g liver supernatant fraction. Absolute requirement of glutathione for the inhibitory activity of the dialyzed supernatant and irreversible loss of the inhibitory activity by the heat-treated supernatant indicate involvement of glutathione S-transferase. Concomitant with inhibition of aflatoxin B₁-DNA binding, the formation of an aflatoxin B₁-glutathione conjugate is indicated.     

In vivo binding of 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine to rat and mouse tissue DNA

The kinetics of total DNA adducts were compared in the liver, bladder epithelium and small intestinal epithelium of rats and mice following a single oral dose (100 mg/kg) of 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine [( 14C]DCB). Peak DNA binding (expressed as pmol DCB bound/mg DNA) in rat tissues was 153.5, 144.8 and 36.9 in the intestine, bladder and liver, respectively, whereas in mouse tissues, the binding was 72.5, 58.2 and 55.8, respectively. In either species, the half-life of the DNA adducts in the liver (13.5 and 13.8 days in rats and mice, respectively) was comparable to that in the bladder epithelium (14.8 and 12.7 days in rats and mice, respectively) but longer than that in the intestinal epithelium (5.9 and 4.7 days in rats and mice, respectively). Peak total DCB binding in hepatic but not intestinal or bladder epithelial DNA correlated positively with total urinary DCB metabolites. In vitro, mouse hepatic S9 was 57% more active in catalyzing the formation of DNA-binding derivatives of DCB, in parallel with the higher in in vivo maximum hepatic DNA binding in mice than in rats. Thus, a single oral dose of DCB in rats and mice leads to extensive binding of the chemical to tissue DNA, with the rate of removal of the adducts not differing between target and non-target tissues.     

Inhibition of aflatoxin B1 binding to hepatic DNA by dehydroepiandrosterone in vivo

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) a naturally occurring steroid,has been reported to inhibit the binding of N-dimethylnitrosamineand 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to DNA in vivo and to increaseglutathione transferase activity. In this study, we have investigatedif DHEA could protect hepatic DNA from damage by the potenthepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). Young male Fischer 344(2-month-old) rats were fed a diet containing 0.8% DHEA for14 days. Control rats were pair-fed the same diet without DHEA.The rats were then administered a single i.p. dose of [³H]AFB₁in dimethylsulfoxide (0.6 mg/kg body weight; 200 mCi/mmol) andkilled after 3 h. Liver weight, mitochondrial, microsomal andcytosolic protein, cytochrome P450 content and glutathione transferaseactivity increased significantly (P < 0.001) in DHEA-fedrats; however, the hepatic DNA content was not altered. DHEAfeeding increased the total amount of AFB₁ bound to hepaticprotein but decreased the extent of DNA binding. In in vitroexperiments, there was less total binding to DNA and proteinby AFB₁ when using microsomes from DHEA-fed rats. These resultssuggest that DHEA inhibits the binding of AFB₁ to DNA by modifyingthe biotransformation of the carcinogen.     

Inhibition of binding of 2-acetylaminofluorene to DNA by butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole in vitro

Numerous studies have shown that the food antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), under specific exposure conditions, can inhibit hepatocarcinogenesis induced by various carcinogens. The purpose of the present work was to study the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the anticarcinogenic activity of BHA and BHT using in vitro systems. The effects of BHA and BHT on the binding of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) to DNA was determined in a microsomal system and in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. It was found that both antioxidants reduce the binding of 2-AAF and that of N-OH-2-acetylaminofluorene (N-OH-2-AAF) to calf thymus DNA in the presence of liver microsomes. The inhibition was however more pronounced with the parent compound. Lower levels of DNA binding were also detected in hepatocytes incubated with 2-AAF along with BHA or BHT. These results suggest that phenolic antioxidants can exert anticarcinogenic activity through modulation of carcinogen interaction with DNA which may reflect on alteration in carcinogen metabolic activation.     

Evidence for the covalent binding of aflatoxin B1-dichloride to cytosine in DNA.

In vitro studies of the effect of aflatoxin B1-dichloride (AFB1-Cl2) on the template function for RNA synthesis of several single- and double-stranded synthetic DNAs containing cytosine and/or hypoxanthine bases are reported. The results indicate: (i) AFB1-Cl2 strongly inhibits the template function of the single-stranded homopolymer polydC and has no effect on polydI, (ii) the inhibition is stronger when cytosine is in the double-stranded alternating copolymer poly[d(I-C)], and (iii) polydI directed RNA synthesis can be inhibited if it is in the double-stranded homopolymer polydI.polydC, although the template function of the polydC strand is still inhibited to a greater extent. The evidence that the selective inhibition of the DNA template function is a direct reflection of the binding specificities of AFB1-Cl2 is provided by the binding studies of [3H]AFB1-Cl2 to these DNAs. The binding of AFB1-Cl2 to polydC is substantiated by the dose-response template inhibition and by the dose-response template binding studies. Additionally, these results show that AFB1 per se has neither inhibitory nor binding activity. Auto radiography of [alpha-32P]GTP labeled RNAs suggests that the mechanism of inhibition of polydC template function by AFB1-Cl2 is mainly due to the inhibition of the elongation of RNA synthesis. Spectrum measurement of the products of enzyme digestion of the AFB1-Cl2 modified polydC reveals that the deoxycytidine fraction gives a typical cytosine absorption peak at 275 nm followed by a broad peak between 300 and 400 nm with a maximum at 390 nm. High performance liquid chromatography confirms the existence of a cytosine-AFB1 adduct which absorbs strongly in the regions between 250 and 400 nm with peaks identifiable at 260, 350 and 390 nm. These results strongly suggest that AFB1 in the activated form of AFB1-Cl2 is able to covalently bind to cytosine in DNA.     

Selenium effects on the carcinogenicity and metabolism of 2-acetylaminofluorene

Addition of 4 ppm Se to the drinking water of male albino rats fed diets containing 0.03% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) provided protection against hepatic damage and also resulted in at least 50% reduction in liver tumor incidence. An in vitro assay system utilizing microsomes from Se supplemented or non-supplemented 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induced rats was used to determine the effect of oral Se intake on the metabolism of AAF. Oral Se administration led to an increase in ring hydroxylation and a decrease in N-hydroxylation. Addition of Se to the microsomal assay system increased 3-OH AAF formation and decreased N-OH AAF formation, thus shifting the balance of metabolism toward detoxification pathways.     

Susceptibility to aflatoxin B1-induced carcinogenesis correlates with tissue-specific differences in DNA repair activity in mouse and in rat

To investigate the mechanisms responsible for species- and tissue-specific differences in susceptibility to aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-induced carcinogenesis, DNA repair activities of nuclear extracts from whole mouse lung and liver and rat liver were compared, and the ability of in vivo treatment of mice with AFB(1) to alter repair of AFB(1)-DNA damage was determined. Plasmid DNA containing AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine or AFB(1)-formamidopyrimidine adducts were used as substrates for the in vitro determination of DNA repair synthesis activity, detected as incorporation of radiolabeled nucleotides. Liver extracts from CD-1 mice repaired AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine and AFB(1)-formamidopyrimidine adducts 5- and 30-fold more effectively than did mouse lung, and approximately 6- and 4-fold more effectively than did liver extracts from Sprague-Dawley rats. The susceptibility of mouse lung and rat liver to AFB(1)-induced carcinogenesis correlated with lower DNA repair activity of these tissues relative to mouse liver. Lung extracts prepared from mice treated with a single tumorigenic dose of 50 mg/kg AFB(1) i.p. and euthanized 2 hours post-dosing showed minimal incision and repair synthesis activities relative to extracts from vehicle-treated mice. Conversely, repair activity towards AFB(1)-N(7)-guanine damage was approximately 3.5-fold higher in liver of AFB(1)-treated mice relative to control. This is the first study to show that in vivo treatment with AFB(1) can lead to a tissue-specific induction in DNA repair. The results suggest that lower DNA repair activity, sensitivity of mouse lung to inhibition by AFB(1), and selective induction of repair in liver contribute to the susceptibility of mice to AFB(1)-induced lung tumorigenesis relative to hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Effect of butylated hydroxyanisole pretreatment on in vitro hepatic aflatoxin B1-DNA binding and aflatoxin B1-glutathione conjugation in rats

The effect of 3(2)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA) pretreatment of rats on both in vitro hepatic aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-DNA binding and AFB1-glutathione (AFB1-SG) conjugation has been examined. For these studies, young male F344 rats were fed AIN-76 A diet with or without 0.75% BHA for 2 weeks. There were no significant differences either in microsomal cytochrome P-450 content or microsome-mediated exogenous DNA binding to AFB1 with cytochrome P-450 from control or BHA-treated animals. There were large differences in reduced glutathione S-transferase activity with treated cytosols showing 2.5-fold higher activity than the controls. Hepatic reduced glutathione levels were 25% higher in treated than in controls. Kinetics of cytosolic inhibition of microsome-mediated AFB1-DNA binding and formation of AFB1-SG conjugate when examined at two levels of AFB1 (2 and 10 microM) and a 4-fold range of cytosolic concentrations showed that inhibition of AFB1-DNA binding was greater with cytosol from the treated compared to the controls. However, AFB1-SG conjugation was 3- to 4-fold greater in treated than in controls. Inhibition of AFB1-DNA binding by cytosol was reversed in the presence of 1 mM level of various epoxides with concomitant inhibition of AFB1-SG conjugation. In reconstitution studies with 2 microM AFB1, intact nuclei alone from either group did not yield significant amounts of either DNA binding or AFB1-SG conjugation. However, addition of microsomes from either group to these nuclei generated a large amount of AFB1-DNA binding (82-111 pmol) and a smaller amount of AFB1-SG conjugate (9-28 pmol). The presence of cytosols from the control group reduced AFB1-DNA binding to a much lesser extent than the cytosols from the treated group. However, AFB1-SG conjugation was much higher with the cytosol from treated than with the controls. These reconstitution studies with endogenous DNA show more AFB1-DNA binding with the control than with BHA-treated animals and are in agreement with the studies in vivo. It appears that induced levels of cytosolic reduced glutathione S-transferase modulate AFB1-DNA binding and AFB1 hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Modulation of microsome-mediated aflatoxin B1 binding to exogenous and endogenous DNA by cytosolic glutathione S-transferases in rat and hamster livers

Microsome mediated aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) binding to exogenousand endogenous DNA and its modulation by cytosolic glutathione(GSH) S-transferases have been examined in rat and hamster livers.Kinetic studies over a wide range of cytosol concentrationsindicate that cytosol from the hamster is several-fold moreeffective than that from the rat in inhibiting AFB₁ bindingto exogenous calf thymus DNA mediated by microsomes from eitherspecies. Low concentrations of GSH (0.1–0.2 mM) are requiredfor 50% inhibition of AFB₁—DNA binding by cytosol. Withexogenous DNA, combined microsome-cytosol fractions from thehamster give more AFB₁—DNA binding than those from therat. However, with nuclei as a source of endogenous DNA, AFB₁—DNAbinding is less with combined microsome-cytosol fractions fromthe hamster than those from the rat. Cytosolic inhibition ofAFB₁—DNA binding is almost completely reversed in thepresence of 1 mM levels of either trichloropropene oxide orstyrene oxide. Quantitation of AFB₁—DNA binding and AFB₁-GSH conjugation indicate an inverse relationship between thesetwo processes. Cytosol from the rat has less capacity than thatfrom the hamster to form an AFB₁—GSH conjugate. HepaticGSH levels are about equal (6–7 mM) in both species. I.p.administration of [¹⁴C]AFB₁ 2 h before sacrifice gives moreAFB₁ binding to hepatic nuclear DNA in rats than in hamsters.However, depletion of hepatic GSH levels by 80% by i.p. administrationof diethylmaleate (600 mg/kg) increases AFB₁—DNA binding2- to 3-fold in both species. The role of cytosolic GSH S-transferasesin modulating hepatic AFB₁—DNA binding in rats and hamstersis discussed.     

DNA binding and adduct formation of aflatoxin B1 in cultured human and animal tracheobronchial and bladder tissues

DNA binding and adduct formation of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) wasstudied in cultured bladder and tracheobronchial explants fromhuman, monkey, dog, hamster and rat. Explants were exposed to[³H]AFB₁ (1 µM final concentration) in PFMR-4 medium (pH7.4) without serum for 24 h, after which epithetial cell DNAwas isolated by hydroxylapatite chromatography. Binding (µmolAFB₁/mol deoxyribo-nucledetide, mean ± SD) was higherin tracheobronchial tissues (human, 2.2 ± 2.4; rat, 5.7± 2.4; dog, 10.6 ± 6.6; hamster 134.6 ±44.6) than in bladder tissues (human, 1.5 ± 2.3; monkey,2.5 ± 1.1; rat, 3.8 ± 1.1; dog, 5.2 ± 2.3;hamster, 26.2 ± 13.3). These binding levels were notcorrelated with the relative susceptibilities of these speciesto AFB₁ hepatocarcinogenesis, in that the hamster and the dogare insensitive, but exhibited the highest binding, while thesusceptible species, the rat and the monkey, had lower binding.After acid hydrolysis of the isolated DNA, the [³H]AFB₁-DNAadducts were separated by h.p.l.c. In all cases, almost allof the [³H]AFB1-DNA represented addition of AFB₁ to the N⁷ atomof guanine, the major adduct (40–79% of the total) being8, 9-dihydro-8-(N⁵-formyl-2', 5', 6' -triamino-4' -oxo-N⁵-pyrimidyl)-9-hydroxyAFB₁,with minor amounts (7–28%) of 8,9-dihydro-8-(N⁷-guanyl)-9-hydroxyAFB₁.In some cases small amounts (0–8%) of unknown, polar adductscould be detected. It is concluded that, qualitatively, AFB₁-DNAadduct formation by human and animal bladder and tracheobronchilalexplants is similar to that found in other in vitro and in vivoextrahepatic and hepatic systems, but that in vitro bindingdata of AFB₁ to extrahepatic animal tissues can probably notbe used to predict the susceptibility of the human to AFB₁-relatedcardnogenesis in these tissues.