Characterization of Nucleoside Adducts Resulting from the in vitro Reaction of Cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-3,4-oxide with DNA

The environmental contaminant cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (CPP) is a potent genotoxic carcinogen. Once inhaled or ingested, the compound can be readily activated to metabolites capable of disrupting cellular DNA. In the present study we undertook to characterize the nature of the chemical interaction between the putative reactive metabolite of CPP, CPP-3,4-oxide, and nucleotide bases on the DNA strand. Methods for adduct formation and subsequent retrieval of nucleoside adducts were developed, allowing for structural characterization of a number of CPP-DNA adducts by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.Master of Science in Public Healt