Nitroreductase-dependent mutagenicity of p-nitrophenylhydroxylamine and its N-acetyl and N-formyl hydroxamic acids

p-Nitrophenylhydroxylamine (NPH) and two hydroxamic acids derived from it were synthesized and subjected to mutagenicity testing in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA98NR, TA1538 and TA1538NR. In addition, p-dinitrobenzene (DNB), p-nitroaniline (NA) and p-nitroacetanilide (AcNA) were simultaneously examined for mutagenic action against these four tester strains. NPH, its N-acetyl (AcNPH) and N-formyl (FoNPH) derivatives, and also DNB displayed strong mutagenic action to the nitroreductase-containing strains, TA98 and TA1538. NPH was the most potent chemical in this series against both of these strains, while the two hydroxamic acids AcNPH and FoNPH, and also DNB displayed approximately the same degree of mutagenicity. In the nitroreductase-deficient strains, TA98NR and TA1538NR, the mutagenicity of these four compounds was markedly reduced. The necessity for nitroreduction in order to activate these promutagens is fairly certain; however, the lack of mutagenicity of NA and AcNA towards all four tester strains made the interpretation of these data somewhat more complicated. Several possible bioactivation pathways were presented, with one mechanism in particular being proposed. This mechanism requires only that the strong electron-withdrawing nitro group be converted to an electron-donating group by bacterial nitroreductase. Such a mechanism is unique for the bioactivation of nitro aromatics by nitroreductase, since the enzymatic reduction need not produce the intermediary hydroxylamine metabolite.