High susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 and benzo[a]pyrene of BALB3T3 A31-1-1 cells expressing monkey CYP1A1.

The monkey CYP1A1 has been expressed in BALB 3T3 A31-1-1 cells and the expressed proteins were assayed for their capacity to activate aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The transformed cells were approximately 5.4- and 4.7-fold more sensitive to AFB1 and B[a]P than the parental cells, respectively. These results indicate that monkey CYP1A1 cDNA encoded a functional protein and that the expressed CYP1A1 enzyme is active for the activation of B[a]P as well as AFB1 to produce toxic metabolites.