Modification of DNA and metabolism of ethyl carbamate in vivo: formation of 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine and its sensitive determination by reductive tritiation using 3H-sodium borohydride.

The modification of liver DNA of mice and rats by ethyl carbamate and its putative proximate metabolite, vinyl carbamate, has been investigated. Following treatment with [ethyl-1-14C]-ethyl carbamate, the main radioactive DNA adduct was identified as 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine by cochromatography with the authentic marker in several separation systems. After reduction by sodium borohydride (NaBH4) to 7-(2-hydroxyethyl)guanine, the radioactive material again cochromatographed with the respective marker. Reduction of modified liver DNA by 3H-NaBH4, following administration of unlabelled ethyl carbamate or vinyl carbamate, allowed the quantitation of 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine (as 7-(2-hydroxy-2-[3H]-ethyl)guanine). Vinyl carbamate led to about 100 times as much 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine (on a molar basis) as did ethyl carbamate. Both the formation of 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine by ethyl carbamate and vinyl carbamate, and the much higher activity of the latter compound, strongly support the existence of the metabolic activation pathway, ethyl carbamate----vinyl carbamate----epoxyethyl carbamate, as proposed by Dahl et al. (1978, 1980). The possible role of 7-(2-oxoethyl)guanine in the initiation of the carcinogenic process is discussed in view of the structural equilibrium with its hemiacetal conformation, O6,7-(1'-hydroxyethano)guanine. In the latter conformation, it is assumed to represent a promutagenic lesion. In addition, intrastrand cross-links between modified guanine and adjacent cytosine or adenine seem possible and may have promutagenic consequences. Replication of DNA containing such lesions may lead to the induction of mutations. This may be a critical event in the initiation, and eventually progression, of the carcinogenic process as determined by ethyl carbamate and other carcinogens, such as vinyl chloride, which lead to the same DNA modification.