C₈-arylguanine and C₈-aryladenine formation in calf thymus DNA from arenediazonium ions

Arylhydrazides, arylhydrazines, and N-alkyl-N-arylnitrosamines are metabolized to arenediazonium ions which yield C⁸-arylpurine adducts in calf thymus and cellular DNA. The mechanism of adduct formation has not been fully elucidated. C⁸-Arylguanine adducts likely form from direct aryl radical (Ar(·)) addition to the C⁸ position of guanine. However, the amounts of C⁸-aryladenine adducts measured here are inconsistent with direct radical attack at the C⁸ position of adenine. An intermediate product, an aryltriazene, is likely formed which then decomposes to the C⁸-aryladenine adduct. We have demonstrated that N¹-aryl-N⁸-purinyltriazene adducts are formed from a variety of para-substituted arenediazonium ions with adenine. Decomposition of the N¹-aryl-N³-purinyltriazene, at high pH and elevated temperatures, has been shown to give C⁸-aryladenine derivatives, and a free radical mechanism for this process has been proposed. Here we show that this process can occur under physiological conditions and that the C⁸-aryladenine adduct can be quantitated by HPLC. ESR studies, in which DMPO was used as a spin trap, have been used to demonstrate the intermediacy of aryl radicals during the decomposition of the N¹-aryl-N³-purinyltriazenes and to demonstrate that this process also occurs in calf thymus (ct) DNA treated with arenediazonium ions. These results suggest the involvement of an aryl radical in the formation of the observed DNA adducts. Finally, we have found that the treatment of ct DNA with arenediazonium ions produces a significant amount of depurination. Both the formation of C⁸-arylguanine and C⁸- aryladenine adducts and the generation of apurinic sites may contribute to the genotoxicity of arylhydrazides, arylhydrazines, N-alkyl-N- arylnitrosamines, and arenediazonium ions.