Oxidative DNA damage by a metabolite of carcinogenic 1-nitropyrene

Nitropyrenes are carcinogenic pollutants. Adduct formation following nitro-reduction is considered to be a major cause of nitropyrene-mediated DNA damage. We investigated the role of 1-nitrosopyrene, a metabolite of 1-nitropyrene, in causing oxidative DNA damage, using 32P-5'-end-labeled DNA. 1-Nitrosopyrene was found to facilitate Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage in the presence of NADH. Catalase and a Cu(I)-specific chelator attenuated DNA damage, indicating the involvement of H2O2 and Cu(I). Typical *OH scavenger did not have a significant effect. These results suggest that the main reactive species is probably a DNA-copper-hydroperoxo complex. We also measured 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine formation by 1-nitrosopyrene in the presence of Cu(II) and NADH, using an electrochemical detector coupled to a high-pressure liquid chromatograph. We conclude that oxidative DNA damage, in addition to DNA adduct formation, may play an important role in the carcinogenesis of nitropyrenes.