J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 258, Issue 16, 9729-9732, Aug, 1983
Reaction of dATP with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea in vitro
MS Baker and MD Topal
Extensive methylation was found upon reaction of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea
with dATP. The products of this reaction were purified by repeated anion
exchange column chromatography and were found to consist of adenine
deoxyribonucleotides methylated on the base moiety, terminal phosphate, or
both. Products methylated on the adenine ring were identified by
co-migration of acid-hydrolyzed samples with authentic standards on reverse
phase high pressure liquid chromatography. Products methylated on the sugar
phosphate moiety were identified by digestion with snake venom
phosphodiesterase, alkaline phosphatase, or both followed by
polyethyleneimine cellulose thin layer chromatography. The results
demonstrate production of gamma-phosphate-methyldATP, beta-
phosphate-methyl-dADP, 1-methyldATP, and gamma-phosphate-methyl-1-
methyldATP as well as the relatively unstable products 3-methyldATP and
gamma-phosphate-methyl-3-methyl-dATP. The identities and amounts of
products formed during this reaction in vitro are consistent with our
finding that cellular deoxyribonucleotide pools are a significant target
for N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (Topal, M. D., and Baker, M. S. (1982) Proc.
Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79, 2211-2215).