Elsevier

Toxicology Letters

Volume 43, Issues 1–3, October 1988, Pages 257-276
Toxicology Letters

Computational approaches to the identification of suspect toxic molecules

https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-4274(88)90032-XGet rights and content

Abstract

We have presented computational approaches that can be used for the relatively rapid identification of suspect toxigens, including carcinogens, in two different classes of compounds: (a) halogenated olefins and epoxides, and (b) substituted dibenzo-p-dioxins. A common element in these approaches is the key role played by the molecular electrostatic potential. It is applied in two different ways, however; it is used to assess the reactivity of a specific site in the case of the epoxides, and for the dibenzo-p-dioxins the focus is on the overall pattern of negative regions above the molecular plane. While we are continuing to develop and refine both types of analysis, especially that related to the dibenzo-p-dioxins, the results obtained so far are encouraging, and indicate that these can be regarded as useful screening techniques for identifying compounds that require further and more exhaustive investigation.

References (93)

  • R.P. Hanzlik et al.

    Halogenated epoxides and related compounds in inhibitors of epoxide hydrase

    Arch. Biochem. Biophys.

    (1980)
  • R.J. Kociba et al.

    Results of a two-year chronic toxicity and oncogenicity study of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rats

    Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.

    (1978)
  • J.D. McKinney et al.

    Toxicological assessment of hexachlorobiphenal isomers and 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzofuran in chicks. 1. Relationship of chemical parameters

    Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol.

    (1976)
  • J. Knutson et al.

    Halogenated Hydrocarbons

  • P. Politzer et al.

    Models for chemical reactivity

  • P. Politzer et al.

    Molecular electrostatic potentials: an effective tool for the elucidation of biochemical phenomena

    Environ. Hlth Persp.

    (1985)
  • Environmental Protection Agency, Science Advisory Board

    Assessment of Health Risk from Organics in Drinking Water

    (1975)
  • L.H. Keith et al.

    Identification and Analysis of Organic Pollutants in Water

    (1976)
  • Y.-T. Woo et al.
  • P.L. Viola et al.

    Oncogenic response of rat skin, lungs and bones to vinyl chloride

    Cancer Res.

    (1971)
  • C. Maltoni

    Recent findings on the carcinogenicity of chlorinated olefins

    Environ. Hlth Persp.

    (1977)
  • R.J. Waxweiler et al.

    Neoplastic risk among workers exposed to vinyl chloride

    Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.

    (1976)
  • R. Rawls

    Studies update vinyl chloride hazards

    Chem. Eng. News

    (1980)
  • International Agency for Research on Cancer

    IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals

    (1976)
  • H. Bartsch et al.

    Mutagenic and alkylating metabolites

    Arch. Toxicol.

    (1979)
  • B.L. Van Durren et al.

    Chemical structure and carcinogenicity relationships of some chloroalkene oxides and their parent olefins

    Cancer Res.

    (1983)
  • B.L. Van Duuren

    Possible mechanism of carcinogenic action of vinyl chloride

    Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.

    (1975)
  • D.C. Leibman et al.

    Metabolism of halogenated ethylenes

    Environ. Hlth Persp.

    (1977)
  • S. Banerjee et al.

    Covalent binding of carcinogen trichloroethylene to hepatic microsomal proteins and to exogenous DNA in vitro

    Cancer Res.

    (1978)
  • A.T. Pudzianowski et al.

    Quantum chemical studies of model cytochrome P-450 hydrocarbon oxidation mechanisms. 1. A MINDO/3 study of hydroxylation and epoxidation pathways for methene and ethylene

    J. Amer. Chem. Soc.

    (1980)
  • P. Politzer et al.

    A study of the reactive properties of the chlorinated ethylenes

  • D.G. Williamson et al.

    Rates of reactions of ozone with chlorinated and conjugated olefins

    J. Amer. Chem. Soc.

    (1968)
  • K. Griesbaum et al.

    Synthese und Stabilität von 2,3-Dichloroxiranen

    Liebigs Ann. Chem.

    (1975)
  • G. Bonse et al.

    Chemical reactivity, biotransformation, and toxicity of polychlorinated aliphatic compounds

    CRC Crit. Rev. Toxicol.

    (1976)
  • M. Ikeda et al.

    Comparitive study of the excretion of Fujiwara reaction-positive substances in urine of humans and rodents given trichloro- or tetrachloro-derivatives of ethane and ethylene

    Br. J. Ind. Med.

    (1972)
  • R.T. Morrison et al.
  • P. Politzer et al.

    Epoxide-nucleophile interactions: acid-catalyzed reaction of ethylene with water

  • P. Politzer et al.

    The catalytic effect of hydrogen bonding upon epoxide ring opening

  • J.E. Ferrell et al.

    Mechanistic studies of arene oxide and diol epoxide rearrangement and hydrolysis reactions

    J. Amer. Chem. Soc.

    (1979)
  • P. Politzer et al.

    Calculated properties of some possible vinyl chloride metabolites

    Int. J. Quantum Chem.

    (1982)
  • P.R. Laurence et al.

    Some reactive properties of chlorooxirane, a likely carcinogenic metabolite of vinyl chloride

    Int. J. Quantum Chem.

    (1984)
  • P.R. Laurence et al.

    Reactive properties of trans-dichlorooxirane in relation to the contrasting earcinogenicities of vinyl chloride and trans-dichloroethylene

    Int. J. Quantum Chem.

    (1984)
  • A.D. McLaren

    Enzyme action in structurally restricted systems

    Enzymologia

    (1960)
  • G.R. Welch et al.

    Long-range energy continua in the living cell: protochemical considerations

  • J.W. Depierre et al.

    Enzyme topology of intraceilular membranes

    Annu. Rev. Biochem.

    (1977)
  • Cited by (22)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text