Carcinogenesis is blocked by an extraordi- Although bifunctional inducers appear to elevate phase II enzymes in part by binding to the Ah (aryl hydrocarbon) receptor, the molecular mechanisms by which monofunctional inducers act are less clear (3). This paper extends our earlier efforts to identify structural features important for phase II enzyme induction by diphenols and phenylenediamines (5). Since the specific activity of QR in the Hepa lclc7 murine hepatoma cells is raised by virtually all compounds that produce coordinate elevations of phase II enzymes in vivo (4, 5, 7), this system was used to determine the potency of various types of enzyme inducers. Some inducers identified in cell culture were also tested as inducers of QR and GST in mouse tissues.We report here that phase II enzyme inducers contain, or acquire by metabolism, a hitherto unrecognized and distinctive chemical and structural feature-i.e., an electrophilic olefin or related electron-deficient center. They are, therefore, Michael reaction acceptors.t This generalization has led to the identification of a number of phase II enzyme inducers that are Michael acceptors and are potential chemoprotectors. Most inducers are also substrates for GST, but whether this merely reflects their electrophilic nature or is an intrinsic aspect of the mechanism of induction is unclear.MATERIALS AND METHODS QR activities of Hepa lclc7 murine hepatoma cells were measured in cells grown in microtiter plates (8). The potency of compounds was determined from plots relating the ratio of treated to basal (vehicle only) of specific activities of QR to the concentration of inducer. Potencies are expressed as the concentrations required to double (designated CD) the basal specific activity of QR. Induction of cytosolic QR and GST activities in female CD1 mouse tissues was assessed by a standard protocol (9, 10). All compounds were of the highest quality obtainable commercially and were purified when necessary.Abbreviations: QR, quinone reductase; GSH, glutathione; GST, glutathione S-transferase; CD, concentration of a compound that doubles the specific activity of QR; BHA, 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole; CDNB, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; DCNB, 1,2-dichloro4nitrobenzene. *Enzymes of xenobiotic metabolism are of two types: (i) phase I enzymes (e.g., cytochromes P450) functionalize compounds usually by oxidation or reduction; and (ii) phase II enzymes conjugate functionalized compounds with endogenous ligands (e.g., glutathione, glucuronic acid). Quinone reductase may be considered a phase II enzyme since it does not introduce new functional groups, is often induced coordinately with other phase II enzymes, and protects cells against toxic agents. tIn 1887 A. Michael reported that olefins conjugated with electronwithdrawing groups (Z) are susceptible to attack by nucleophiles. These so-called "Michael acceptors" have the structures CH2=CH-Z, Z'-CH=CH-Z (including quinones), or R-CLC-Z (acetylenes). The or4er of reactivity of CH2=CH-Z with morpholine or pyrroli...