Adduct conformational polymorphism explains adduct mutational complexity based on studies of the major adduct of benzo(a)pyrene in a mutational hotspot

Benzo(a) pyrene is a potent mutagen/carcinogen that is metabolically activated inside cells to its (+)-anti-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide ((+)-anti-B (a) PDE). Previously, mutations induced by (+)-anti-B (a) PDE were collected in the supF gene of the Escherichia coli plasmid pUB3. pUB3 was reacted with (+)-anti-B (a) PDE, and was either transformed immediately into E. coli or heated at 80...