Alkylation of haemoglobin, plasma proteins and DNA in the mouse by diethylnitrosamine

: Covalent binding to haemoglobin, plasma proteins and DNA was determined after intraperitoneal administration of radiolabelled diethylnitrosamine to mice. The level of alkylation of DNA in liver--the main site of activation--was found to be about two orders of magnitude higher than the level of alkylation of haemoglobin, if compared per unit weight of macromolecule. A high reactivity towards nucleophilic oxygen atoms was characteristic of the reaction pattern. Carboxylic acid ethyl esters, ethylserine and ethylthreonine are important reaction products in the proteins.