Nucleic acids induce the formation of a carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in a model system.

Effects of nucleic acids on the formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) were studied in a model system. When a mixture of a certain amount of DNA or RNA, creatinine (1 mmol) and phenylalanine (1 mmol) in 10 ml of 50 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, was heated at 60 degrees C for 4 weeks in a screw-capped vial, PhIP was produced, and the yield of PhIP was dependent on the heating time as well as the dose of nucleic acid added to the mixture. However, PhIP was not detectable in the mixtures without the presence of nucleic acids. Both deoxyribonucleotides and ribonucleotides tested induced the formation of PhIP under the presence of phenylalanine and creatinine, although bases of nucleic acids such as adenine and guanine did not induce PhIP formation. Moreover, we confirmed that 2-deoxy-D-ribose as well as D-ribose induced the formation of PhIP in the presence of creatinine and phenylalanine. These results indicate that nucleic acids can induce the formation of PhIP in the presence of creatinine and phenylalanine in the model system. Our data also suggest that pentose in nucleic acids may participate in PhIP forming reactions.