Absolute stereochemistry of the major 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-DNA adducts formed in mouse cells

In recent work we assigned partial structures to individual 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (DMBA)--deoxyribonucleoside bisphosphates separated by TLC after postlabeling with [32P]ATP. We have now been able to postlabel DNA adducts formed in cells exposed to either the (4R,3R)- or (4S,3S)-dihydrodiol of DMBA and thereby to assign absolute stereochemistry to the 2-, 3- and 4- positions in the major DMBA-DNA adducts. It is found that the major anti dihydrodiol epoxide-DNA adducts arise from the (4R,3S)-dihydrodiol (2S,1R)-epoxide and that the major syn dihydrodiol epoxide-DNA adducts arise from the (4S,3R)-dihydrodiol (2S,1R)-epoxide.