Adduct formation at C-8 of guanine on in vitro reaction of the ultimate form of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine with 2'-deoxyguanosine and its phosphate esters.

We examined the reactivity of the N-hydroxyamino derivative of a carcinogenic heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), after its O-acetylation with four 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 3'-monophosphates. 32P-Postlabeling analysis demonstrated that the levels of adducts with 2'-deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate were much higher than those with the other three nucleotides. 1H-NMR, mass spectral and UV absorption spectral analyses of the major adducts formed by N-acetyoxy-PhIP with 2'-deoxyguanosine and with its phosphate esters indicated that PhIP bound at the C-8 position of guanine, as previously demonstrated with other heterocyclic amines.