Methylation of rat and mouse DNA by the mushroom poison gyromitrin and its metabolite monomethylhydrazine

✍ Scribed by Bergman, Kerstin; Hellenäs, Karl-Erik

• Book ID: 120406166
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 575 KB
• Volume: 61
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0304-3835
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(92)90175-U

✦ Synopsis

Consumption of false morel (Gyromitra esculenta Fr.) has been associated not only with acute poisoning, but also with a carcinogenic risk. The hydrolysis of acetaldehyde-N-methyl-N-formylhydrazone (gyromitrin, the main toxic component of false morel) results in the formation of the methylating agents N-methyl-N-formylhydrazine (MFH) and N-methylhydrazine (MMH) (by further hydrolysis of MFH). This study reports traces of N-7-methylguanine (N7MeGu) in liver DNA from mice and a rat treated with gyromitrin. After repeated administration of MMH, N7MeGu was identified in rat liver DNA. In mice exposed to MMH according to a dosing scheme identical to that reported to induce tumours in this species, O6-methylguanine was present in liver and kidney DNA. The results indicate that a relatively low carcinogenic risk is associated with false morel consumption. The risk may be greater in individuals with a decreased detoxification rate (acetylation) of MFH, in whom larger amounts of MMH are formed from gyromitrin.