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Histological Localization of Messenger RNAs for Rat Acetyltransferases That Acetylate Serotonin and Genotoxic Arylamines¹

Carcinogenesis Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201-1379

Rat acetyltransferases (ATs) can acetylate the endogenous arylalkylamines tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin), and 5-methoxytryptamine, the immediate precursor of melatonin. The same enzymes also acetylate and activate exogenous, carcinogenic arylamines, thereby being immediately responsible for the generation of DNA adducts. Localization of AT transcripts in the pineal gland and in specific cells of the intestine, cerebral cortex, pituitary, and lung identifies cells that may be important to the neurotransmitter and hormonal roles of the tryptamine derivatives. Transcript localization in liver, mammary gland, Zymbal gland, kidney, forestomach, and bladder, as well as intestine and lung, identifies cells that may be at increased carcinogenic risk because they can convert N-hydroxylated arylamines to genotoxic metabolites. High specific expression is also observed in the reproductive organs of both the male and female, including the testes, epididymis, uterus, ovary, and fallopian tube. In addition to these diverse organs, which are consistent with possible roles of the enzyme in carcinogen metabolism, neurotransmission, or hormonal regulation, specific cells of the cornea, cilliary process of the eye, olfactory process, adrenal gland, exorbital lacrimal gland, and skin also exhibit highly specific expression of AT mRNAs for which one can only speculate as to their function. In virtually every case, the extent of labeling suggested that AT1 was expressed at levels that were orders of magnitude higher than those of AT2. Qualitative differences in the sites of mRNA of these two enzymes were seen only in the olfactory process, in which AT1 was expressed in both respiratory and olfactory epithelia as well as Bowman's cells, and AT2 was detected only in the latter cells. The available data support the conclusion that the ATs are likely to be involved both in the metabolic activation of exogenous carcinogenic amines as well as the metabolism of endogenous arylalkylamines that play important hormonal and neurotransmitter roles.

¹ This contribution from the A. Alfred Taubman Facility for Environmental Carcinogenesis was supported by NIH Grants CA23386 and CA45639 and an institutional grant from the United Way.

² Present address: Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Oncology, Paderewski 4, 93-509 Lodz, Poland.

³ To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Carcinogenesis Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 East Warren Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1379.

⁴ Present address: 110 Sixth Street, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Received 10/ 2/95. Accepted 2/ 1/96.

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