Benzo[a]pyrene

Benzo[a]pyrene (CAS No.: 50-32-8) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound that is widely present in coal tar, automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, and smoke produced by wood combustion. Benzo[a]pyrene is commonly used as a chemical carcinogen to study its carcinogenic mechanisms and biological effects. Its carcinogenic effect is mainly achieved through metabolic activation: it is first metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes (such as CYP1A1) to form benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide, a metabolite that can form adducts with DNA, leading to DNA damage and mutations, thereby triggering carcinogenesis. Benzo[a]pyrene is also a ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and can induce the expression of CYP1A1 by activating the AhR pathway, further enhancing its metabolic activity. In in vitro studies, the active levels of Benzo[a]pyrene are usually in the low micromolar to nanomolar range, depending on the experimental conditions and cell type. In cell models, Benzo[a]pyrene is often used to induce DNA damage and to study carcinogenic mechanisms; in animal models, it is commonly administered by skin application or intraperitoneal injection to investigate its carcinogenic effects and toxicity. The doses or concentrations used in experiments usually depend on the experimental design and research objectives.