The metabolic activation of chrysene by hamster embryo cells

The major deoxyribonucleoside--hydrocarbon adducts present in hydrolysates of DNA isolated from hamster embryo cells treated with chrysene were examined by chromatography on Sephadex LH20 and by h.p.l.c. on Zorbax ODS. The results show that both major adducts have chromatographic properties identical to those of adducts formed when r-1,t-2-dihydroxy-t-3,4-oxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene reacts with DNA and provide evidence that metabolic activation of chrysene occurs via the formation of this 'bay-region' diol-epoxide.