Cancer is a general term that refers to more than a hundred of different diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division and the capacity of these cells to invade and destroy surrounding normal tissues. Etiologically, cancer is a slow developing condition affected by multiple factors including exposure to environmental toxics, lifestyle, viral infections and individual genetic makeup. Known factors that increase cancer risk include tobacco smoke, exposure to UV or ionizing radiation, and the intake of environmental toxicants present in the air, water or foods. Nitroarenes are widespread pollutants found in cigarette smoke, coal fly ash, and diesel exhaust. These compounds react with cellular DNA forming bulky base lesions that can cause gene mutations and eventually trigger carcinogenic processes. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) system opposes these effects by removing bulky DNA lesions and restoring genome integrity. Xeroderma Pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome, two genetic diseases caused by NER deficiencies, are flagrant examples of the damaging consequences that the persistence of DNA lesions have for human health. In this application, we plan to use a multidisciplinary approach to determine the molecular mechanisms that mediate the toxicity of 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), a prevalent environmental toxicant. The guiding hypothesis of our proposal is that 3-NBA can form adducts that increase DNA stability without perturbing its structure. As a result, these lesions escape NER processing, persisting in DNA and extending their toxic effects. We will test our hypothesis by establishing the solution structure and thermodynamic parameters of duplexes having site specific adducts derived from 3-NBA (aim 2) and establishing their processing by the mammalian NER system (aim 3). As biological end-point, we will investigate the mutagenic potential of 3-NBA adducts and establish the mechanisms of trans-lesion synthesis in mammalian cells (aim 4). Chemical synthesis by which we develop methods for the preparation and site-specific incorporation of these adducts into 2'- oligodeoxynucleotides, is the foundation of our studies and forms an integral part of the proposal (aim 1). We expect that our multidisciplinary approach will define the relevant mechanisms of 3- NBA toxicity and, in turn, identify better biomarkers of environmental exposure and disease risk.

Public Health Relevance

Exposure to 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), an environmental genotoxin produced during coal and diesel combustion, is a prevalent hazard for human health. DNA damage caused by 3-NBA can lead to mutations and initiate carcinogenic processes. This investigation will determine structural, stability and repair mechanisms that mediate the persistence of specific 3-NBA lesions in DNA and determine their mutagenic properties.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01ES017368-01A1
Application #
7802978
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DKUS-C (90))
Program Officer
Shaughnessy, Daniel
Project Start
2010-01-01
Project End
2014-10-31
Budget Start
2010-01-01
Budget End
2010-10-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$349,900
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
Zaliznyak, Tatiana; Lukin, Mark; de los Santos, Carlos (2012) Structure and stability of duplex DNA containing (5'S)-5',8-cyclo-2'-deoxyadenosine: an oxidatively generated lesion repaired by NER. Chem Res Toxicol 25:2103-11
Lukin, Mark; Zaliznyak, Tatiana; Attaluri, Sivaprasad et al. (2012) Solution structure of duplex DNA containing a ?-carba-Fapy-dG lesion. Chem Res Toxicol 25:2423-31
Lukin, Mark; Zaliznyak, Tanya; Johnson, Francis et al. (2012) Structure and stability of DNA containing an aristolactam II-dA lesion: implications for the NER recognition of bulky adducts. Nucleic Acids Res 40:2759-70
Lukin, Mark; Zaliznyak, Tanya; Johnson, Francis et al. (2011) Incorporation of 3-aminobenzanthrone into 2'-deoxyoligonucleotides and its impact on duplex stability. J Nucleic Acids 2011:521035
Lukin, Mark; Minetti, Conceicao A S A; Remeta, David P et al. (2011) Novel post-synthetic generation, isomeric resolution, and characterization of Fapy-dG within oligodeoxynucleotides: differential anomeric impacts on DNA duplex properties. Nucleic Acids Res 39:5776-89
Bergonzo, Christina; Campbell, Arthur J; de los Santos, Carlos et al. (2011) Energetic preference of 8-oxoG eversion pathways in a DNA glycosylase. J Am Chem Soc 133:14504-6
Lukin, Mark; de los Santos, Carlos (2010) Stereoselective nucleoside deuteration for NMR studies of DNA. Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids 29:562-73