carcinogenesis Flashcards
DNA damage and repair: explain how DNA can be damaged, recall the role of p53 in the detection of, and response to DNA damage, summarise the natural repair mechanisms for damaged DNA, explain how unrepaired DNA may become fixed as a mutation. Explain how the potential of a chemical / agent to damage DNA is assessed
2 things which can damage DNA (possibly leading to mutations and cancer, but also by damaging DNA can be used in chemotherapy)
chemicals (carcinogens), radiation
6 sources of chemicals
diet, lifestlye, environment, occupation, medical, endogenous
3 sources of radiation
ionising, solar, cosmic
4 ways DNA is damaged by carcinogens (base pairs are planar, and have hydrogen bonds, so easily activated)
DNA adducts and alkylation, base dimers and chemical cross-links, base hydroxylations (e.g. by reactive oxygen species) forming abasic site (no base present in nucleotide), double and single strand breaks
what is phase I metabolism
addition of functional groups
3 reactions in phase I metabolism
oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis
what mainly mediates phase I metabolism
cytochrome P450
what is phase II metabolism
conjugation of phase I functional groups
6 reactions in phase II metabolism
sulphation, glucoronidation, acetylation, methylation, amino acid conjugation, glutathione conjugation
what does phase II metabolism generate
polar (water soluble) metabolites
what are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (common carcinogens)
common environmental pollutants formed from combustion of fossil fuels or tobacco
structure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
polycyclic carbon rings, double bonds
example of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogen
benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)
what is the 2 step epoxidation of B[a]P in liver
benzo[a]pyrene -(P450)-> benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-oxide -(EH)-> benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol -(P450)-> benzo[a]pyrene-7,8dihydrodiol-9,10-oxide -> epoxide -> DNA adducts
result of DNA adduction by B[a]P
binds to bases in DNA, causing mutational changes
what is aflatoxin B1 formed by, and where is this common
A. flavus mould (common on poorly stored grains and peanuts)
what is aflatoxin B1
potent human liver carcinogen
epoxidation of aflatoxin B1
aflatoxin B1 -(P450)-> aflatoxin B1, 2,3-epoxide -> DNA binding on N7 position (adduction of guanine)
what cancer does aflatoxin B1 epoxidation cause
liver
what is 2-naphthylamine and what cancer does it cause
past component of dye-stuffs which is a potent human bladder carcinogen
metabolism of 2-naphthylamine
2-naphthylamine -(CYP1A2)-> N-hyroxy-2-naphthylamine -(glucuronyl transferase)-> glucuronide binds to NOH -(urine pH)-> breaks down to nitrenium ion -> DNA-reactive electrophile causing bladder tumours
other carcinogen from solar (UV) radiation and cancer caused
pyrimidine (thymine) dimers, causing skin cancer
other carcinogen from ionising radiation
IC free radicals
what do IC free radicals include
oxygen free radicals (super oxide radical O2. and hydroxyl radical HO.)