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Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolism: Enzymatic and Liquid Chromatographic Analysis and Application to Human Liver, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes

  • Chapter
Biological Reactive Intermediates

Abstract

Although the molecular basis for the variability in human responsiveness to the action of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carcinogens is unknown, the initial biogical receptors for the hydrocarbons have been identified as the microsomal mixed-function oxygenases. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are initially oxygenated by this enzyme system and the metabolites formed can be further oxygenated by the same mixed-function oxygenases. Other routes of metabolism can be by hydration of the epoxide intermediates to dihydrodiols or by conjugation of the oxygenated intermediates to water-soluble products. The carcinogenic potential of the hydrocarbon may be either diminished or enhanced by these enzyme systems (1–3) and variation in the activity of these enzyme systems may be related to the variability of the carcinogenic effects in each individual. Heterogeneity in these enzymes may thus be an important factor in the heterogeneity of individuals to carcinogen susceptibility. Thus it is important to have methods to determine the profiles of these enzyme activities in individuals so that their relationship to carcinogenesis can be understood. In this chapter we present various methods for the study of PAH metabolism. Each method has its unique merits and unique deficiencies. A combination of these approaches may yield a systematic analysis with which the relationship of metabolism and carcinogen susceptibility of an individual might be assessed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry and Biology Branches, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 20014, USA

    Harry V. Gelboin, James Selkirk, Takao Okuda, Nobuo Nemoto, Shen K. Yang, Friedrich J. Wiebel, James P. Whitlock Jr., Herbert J. Rapp & Robert C. Bast Jr.

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  1. Harry V. Gelboin
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  2. James Selkirk
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  3. Takao Okuda
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  4. Nobuo Nemoto
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  5. Shen K. Yang
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  6. Friedrich J. Wiebel
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  7. James P. Whitlock Jr.
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  8. Herbert J. Rapp
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  9. Robert C. Bast Jr.
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA

    David J. Jollow  & Thomas Walle  & 

  2. Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, USA

    James J. Kocsis , Robert Snyder , Jussi Saukkonen  & Charlotte Witmer , ,  & 

  3. Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Harri Vainio

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Gelboin, H.V. et al. (1977). Benzo[a]pyrene Metabolism: Enzymatic and Liquid Chromatographic Analysis and Application to Human Liver, Lymphocytes, and Monocytes. In: Jollow, D.J., et al. Biological Reactive Intermediates. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4124-6_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-4124-6_10

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