DNA adduct

Adduct formation is determined by the structures of reactive chemicals, the movement(s) of electrophiles, and the capacity of the compounds to bind with DNA, potentially driving adduct formation to specific nucleophilic sites. The N3 and N7 locations (nucleotide positioning) of guanine and adenine are believed to be the most nucleophilic, and hence, they form adducts selectively over exocyclic oxygen atoms. The generation of DNA adducts is also influenced by certain steric factors. Guanine's N7 position is exposed in the major groove of double-helical DNA, making it more suitable for adduction than when compared to adenine's N3 position, which is orientated in the minor groove.[6]

Figure 2: Reactive Sites of Interest for Nucleic Acids in DNA Adduct Formation

Many compounds require enzyme metabolic activation to become mutagenic and cause DNA damage. Furthermore, reactive intermediates can be produced in the body as a result of oxidative stress, thus harming the DNA. Some chemical carcinogens, metabolites, as well as endogenous compounds generated by inflammatory processes cause oxidative stress. This can result in the formation of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS). ROS and RNS are known to cause DNA damage via oxidative processes. Figure 2 shows each of the reactive sites for the nucleic acids involved in adduction and damage, with each form of transfer distinguished by arrow color. These positions are of interest to researchers studying DNA adduct formation. Research has indicated that many different chemicals may change human DNA and that lifestyle and host characteristics can impact the extent of DNA damage. Humans are constantly exposed to a diverse combination of potentially dangerous substances that might cause DNA damage. [6]

Human consumption of more than 2.5–3.5 oz (70–100 g) of red meat (beef, lamb or pork) a day increases the risk of colon cancer, but eating chicken does not have this risk.[20][21] The increased risk of colon cancer from red meat may be due to higher increases in DNA adducts from digestion of red meat. When rats were fed either beef or chicken, three types of DNA adducts in colon tissue were significantly higher after consumption of beef than after consumption of chicken.[22] These adducts were a type of methyl-cytosine (possibly N3-methyl-cytosine), an adduct of two malondialdehyde molecules with guanine, and carboxyl-adenine.[23]

Human exposure to tobacco smoke has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke can impose great risk to DNA, with chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde reacting directly with DNA to form adducts. In addition, there are other tobacco-specific carcinogens to consider in humans that are activated metabolically, such as nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN). These carcinogens end up forming adducts when reacted with DNA, with those being called pyridyl oxobutyl (POB) adducts.[24]

Figure 4: Effects of Tobacco on Healthy Human DNA

Further analysis has been conducted on the topic, determining that 1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a human carcinogen that is found in cigarette smoke among other synthetic polymer industries. Tests were conducted to understand the differences in the level of urinary BD-DNA adducts among various ethnic groups – white, Japanese American, and Native Hawaiian. It was determined that Japanese American smokers exhibited heightened levels of urinary BD-induced guanine adducts than white and Native Hawaiian individuals, while there were no differences in outcome by ethnicity among non-smokers. Understanding the epigenetic and genetic factors driving these differences in urinary BD-DNA adduct presence is the next step for this research, serving as a link between sociology and the life sciences.[25]

Particulate matter (PM), broadly known as air pollution, is considered a group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; while it is unclear if a direct link between cancer and PM exposure exists, it is likely that PM exposure leads to some degree of cell damage. Upon further investigation, it was determined that PM exposure causes oxidative stress – creating reactive oxygen species, forming DNA adducts, and inducing double-strand breaks (DSBs). In regards to DNA adduct formation, this analysis was conducted after looking at leukocytes from residents of heavily-populated cities (e.g. pollution, long-term traffic); a common component of PMs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), was one of the many molecules considered to be highly correlated with the presence of DNA bulky lesions in these individuals. These findings support the theory that DNA adduct presence indicates a level of carcinogenic activity.[26]