Stimulation of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage by benzene metabolites

Benzene is a human carcinogen that induces hematopoietic malignancies. It is believed that benzene does not initiate leukemias directly, but rather generates DNA damage through a series of phenolic and quinone-based metabolites, especially 1,4-benzoquinone. Since the DNA damage induced by 1,4-benzoquinone is consistent with that of topoisomerase II-targeted drugs, it has been proposed that the compound initiates specific types of leukemia by acting as a topoisomerase II poison. This hypothesis, however, was not supported by initial in vitro studies. While 1,4-benzoquinone inhibited topoisomerase II catalysis, increases in enzyme-mediated DNA cleavage were not observed. Because of the potential involvement of topoisomerase II in benzene-induced leukemias, we re-examined the effects of benzene metabolites (including 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,4-hydroquinone, catechol, 1,2,4-benzenetriol, 2,2′-biphenol, and 4,4′-biphenol) on DNA cleavage mediated by human topoisomerase IIα. In contrast to previous reports, we found that 1,4-benzoquinone was a strong topoisomerase II poison and was more potent in vitro than the anticancer drug etoposide. Other metabolites displayed considerably less activity. DNA cleavage enhancement by 1,4-benzoquinone was unseen in previous studies due to the presence of reducing agents and the incubation of 1,4-benzoquinone with the enzyme prior to the addition of DNA. Unlike anticancer drugs such as etoposide that interact with topoisomerase IIα in a noncovalent manner, the actions of 1,4-benzoquinone appear to involve a covalent attachment to the enzyme. Finally, 1,4-benzoquinone stimulated DNA cleavage by topoisomerase IIα in cultured human cells. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that topoisomerase IIα plays a role in the initiation of some benzene-induced leukemias.