Oxidative DNA Damage Induced by an N‐Hydroxy Metabolite of Carcinogenic 4‐Dimethylaminoazobenzene

Formation of adducts has been considered to be a major causal factor of DNA damage by carcinogenic aminoazo dyes. We investigated whether a metabolite of hepatocarcinogenic 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (DAB) can cause oxidative DNA damage or not, using (32)P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments. The DAB metabolite N-hydroxy-4-aminoazobenzene (N-OH-AAB) was found to cause Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage, including 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) formation. When an endogenous reductant, beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) was added, the DNA damage was greatly enhanced. Very low concentrations of N-OH-AAB could induce DNA damage via redox reactions. Catalase and a Cu(I)-specific chelator inhibited the DNA damage, suggesting the involvement of H2O2 and Cu(I). A typical.OH scavenger did not inhibit the DNA damage. The main reactive species are probably DNA-copper-hydroperoxo complexes. We conclude that oxidative DNA damage may play an important role in the carcinogenic processes of DAB, in addition to DNA adduct formation.