Depurination of Nucleosides and Calf Thymus DNA Induced by 2-Bromopropane at the Physiological Condition

Depurination, the release of purine bases from nucleic acids by hydrolysis of the N-glycosidic bond, gives rise to alterations of the cell genome. Though cells have evolved mechanisms to repair these lesions, unrepaired apurinic sites have been shown to have two biological consequences: lethality and base substitution errors. 2-Bromopropane (2-BP) is used as an intermediate in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other organics. In addition, 2-BP has been used as a replacement for chloroflurocarbons and 1,1,1-trichloroethane as a cleaning solvent in electronics industry. However, 2-BP was found to cause reproductive and hematopoietic disorders in local workers exposed to it. Owing to the toxicity of 2-BP, there has been a tendency to use 1-BP as an alternative cleaning solvent to 2-BP. However, 1-BP has also been reported to be neurotoxic in rats. Though $N^7$-guanine adduct of 2-BP has been reported previously, massive depurination of the nucleosides and calf thymus DNA was observed in this study. We incubated the nucleosides (ddG, dG, guanosine, ddA, dA and adenosine) with excess amount 2-BP at the physiological condition (pH 7.4, $37\;{^{\circ}C}$), which were analyzed by HPLC and LC-MS/MS. In addition, the time and dose response relationship of depurination in nucleosides induced by 2-bromopropane at the physiological condition was investigated. Similarly, incubation of calf-thymus DNA with the excess amount 2-BP at the physiological condition was also performed. In addition, the time and dose response relationship of depurination in calf-thymus DNA induced by 2-BP at the physiological condition was investigated. Those results suggest that the toxic effect of 2-BP could be both from the depurination of nucleosides and DNA adduct formation.