The metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture.

1. The metabolism off the carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbon, benzo(a)pyrene, in Chinese hamster ovary cells in culture has been investigated. 2. Products with the properties on h.p.l.c. of 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene and the trans-4,5-, 7,8- and 9,10-dihydrodiols of benzo(a)pyrene were detected in the cell medium when cells were incubated with benzo(a)pyrene for 24 h. 3. Examination of the nucleoside adducts present in hydrolysates of the DNA of Chinese hamster ovary cells that had been incubated with benzo(a)pyrene showed the presence of a product that co-chromatographed on Sephadex LH20 columns with the nucleoside adduct obtained from DNA that was allowed to react with the anti-isomer of the 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide of benzo(a)pyrene.