Evaluation of Nitrosamide Formation in the Cytochrome P450-Mediated Metabolism of Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines.

ABSTRACT: N'-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) are carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines believed to play a vital role in the initiation of tobacco-related cancers. For their carcinogenicities to be exhibited, both NNN and NNK must be metabolically activated by cytochrome P450s, specifically P450 2A6 and P450 2A13, respectively. Prior research has focused on α-hydroxylation, which leads to the formation of several DNA adducts that have been identified and quantified in vivo. However, some studies indicate that P450s can retain substrates within their active sites and perform processive oxidation. For nitrosamines, this would oxidize the highly unstable α-hydroxynitrosamines to potentially more stable nitrosamides, which could also alkylate DNA. Th

SUBMITTER: Carlson ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5785922 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature