Immunochemical visualization of binding of the chemical carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene diol-epoxide 1 to the genome

antisera against DNA modified with r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (BPDE-1) was elicited in rabbits. Such sera reached with either single- or double-stranded modified DNA but not with unmodified DNA, free benzo(a)pyrene, or proteins modified by BPDE-1. Indirect immunofluorescence studies indicated that the immunoglobulin G in the sera bound specifically to the nuclei of KD cells which were treated with BPDE-1. The intensity of fluorescence was proportional to the dose of BPDE-1 used to treat the cells. About 50% of the BPDE-1-DNA adducts remained bound to DNA 24 hr after the removal of the carcinogen. The location of BPDE-1-modified bases in Col E1 DNA was visualized by immunoelectron microscopy.