Benzidine: mechanisms of oxidative activation and mutagenesis.

Benzidine oxidative activation may proceed by peroxidase-catalyzed one-electron oxidation via free radical intermediates, or by N-acetylation followed by monooxygenase-catalyzed N-hydroxylation. The peroxidase route has been examined by using horseradish peroxidase or prostaglandin H synthase in vitro. In the presence of nucleophiles such as phenols, thiols, or nucleic acids, isolable adducts are formed. The structures of these adducts have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The Ames test provides a useful system for studying benzidine bioactivation to mutagenic intermediates. An endogenous bacterial acetylase plays an important auxiliary role in the hepatic S9-dependent activation of benzidine. Bacterial peroxidases may also support benzidine oxidation in the Ames test.