Complex Metabolic Activation Pathways of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: 3-Hydroxy-trans-7,8-Dihydroxy-7,8-Dihydrobenzo[a]Pyrene as a Proximate Mutagen of 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]Pyrene

3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OH-BP) is a major metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in various systems. Metabolites of 3-OH-BP, formed by liver enzymes, bind to DNA1,2 and are mutagenic3,4. However, the active species have not yet been identified. Administration of 3-OH-BP to rats results in the excretion of sulfate and glucuronic acid conjugates of 3-hydroxy-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (3-OH-BP-7,8-diol) (Fig. 1) as major metabolites in the bile5. The hydroxyl groups of this triol are structurally superimposable to those of 9-hydroxy-trans-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrochrysene (9-hydroxychrysene-1,2-diol, Fig. 1), which is a metabolite of chrysene6,7 and a potent promutagen8,9. 9-…