alpha, beta-Unsaturated carbonyl compounds are important not only from a theoretical but also a practical standpoint. These ubiquitous compounds can interact with DNA through various mechanisms. The predominant interaction is the formation of cyclic 1,N2-deoxyguanosine adducts; 7,8-cyclic guanine adducts are also found. We have synthesized and characterized the stereoisomers of adducts formed by about 20 alpha, beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. The different types of adducts and the mutagenic and genotoxic response can be explained by the molecular structures of the agents. Compounds forming saturated cyclic adducts are mutagenic in S. typhimurium strain TA100 and to a lesser extent in TA1535. Substances with a leaving group at the C-3 position form unsaturated conjugated cyclic adducts and are mutagenic only in the His D3052 frameshift strains with an intact excision repair system (no urvA mutation). Metabolic epoxidation of the double bond and other metabolic activation, e.g., activation of the nitrogroups via nitroreductases, were also found to contribute to genotoxic and mutagenic activities. Our results have further elucidated the genotoxic mechanisms of these compounds; however, additional investigations are required for a complete understanding of the genotoxic activity of this class of compounds.

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