The biologic and toxic effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are remarkably dependent on their structure. The most toxic PCBs, namely 3,3',4,4'-tetra-, 3,3',4,4',5-penta- and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl are substituted in at least one meta and para position on both phenyl rings (i.e., the lateral positions) and contain no ortho-chloro substituents. These three congeners and a fourth PCB, namely 3,4,4',5-tetrachlorobiphenyl, are approximate isostereomers of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and, in common with TCDD, induce hepatic microsomal benzo[a]pyrene or aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) in rats and rat hepatoma cells in culture. The mono-ortho substituted analogs of the four laterally substituted PCBs also induce microsomal AHH activity and simultaneously enhance microsomal enzyme activities which are inducible by phenobarbitone (PB). This group of PCBs exhibits many of the properties of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and related polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins; there is a close parallel in the relative potencies of these PCBs for AHH induction and their binding affinities for the Ah receptor protein and some of these PCBs are also toxic. Preliminary studies on other halogenated biphenyls confirm that the polarizability of a lateral substituent is an important factor in their activity as AHH inducers (i.e., I greater than Br greater than Cl greater than F). However, preliminary results with other substituted halogenated biphenyls suggest that additional structural factors are also important in determining the activity of these compounds.

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A comparative study of the effects of tetrachlorobiphenyls (TCBs) on the succinate-supported respirations of rat liver mitochondria was made, and some differences in effects caused by the different chlorine positions of the biphenyl rings were clarified. The inhibitory actions of 2,3,2',3'-,2,4,2',4'-, and 2,5,2',5'-TCBs on both state 3 and uncoupler-stimulated respirations were potent, while those induced by 2,6,2',6'-, and 3,4,3',4'-TCBs were weak. 2,3,2',3'-,2,4,2',4'-,2,5,2',5'-, and 2,6,2',6'-TCBs stimulated state 4 respiration, but 3,4,3',4'-TCB had very little effect on this respiration. The latent adenosine triphosphatase activity was stimulated by 2,3,2',3'-,2,4,2',4'-, and 2,5,2',5'-TCBs, but 2,6,2',6'-, and 3,4,3',4'-TCBs had no effects. The relationship between these effects and chemical structure of TCBs is discussed.

S,gnal transducuon reduced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) vm ,ts receptor revolves two second messengers, chacylglycerol (DG) and momtol msphosphate, both products of phosphandylmo~to|-specdic phosphohpase C wluch seem to pamctpate m the regulauon of cellular prohferauon by EGF We observed that A431 cells and HeL~ cells m response to EGF accumulate substanual amounts of phosphauchc actd (PA), the potenual product of DG kmase However, PA appears earher and stays longer elevated than expected from DG avadabxhty thus rinsing the poss~bd~ty of an EGF-mduced acuvatxon of a phosphohpase D (PLD) In the presence of prm=ry alcohols PLD effects the phosphandyl transfer reacuon producmg PA-alcohol, a reacuon known to be excluszvely ~ by PLD m mtact cells A431 cells and cells prelabeled w~th [14C]-oleate produce m the presence of ethanol (0 5%) or l-butanol (0 2%) substanual amounts of labeled PA-alcohol m response to EGF These results mchcate that acuvauon of PLD had occurred Acuvauon of PLD may x~present a novel mgnal transducing pathway wluch may pamctpate m the regulauon of cell prohferauon by EGF -a hypothes~s presently mvesugated m thts laboratory Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgememschaft.

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