Mutagenicity of (p-nitrophenyl)adenines in Salmonella typhimurium

Adenine derivatives having a p-nitrophenyl group at position 2, 8, or 9 were directly mutagenic towards Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100, whereas N6-(p-nitrophenyl)adenine was not mutagenic. 2,9- And 8,9-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)adenines were also mutagenic, but N6,9-bis-(p-nitrophenyl)adenine was not. The study on 13 (p-nitrophenyl)adenine derivatives for their Salmonella mutagenicity indicates that only those having a p-nitrophenyl ring directly linked to the purine ring are mutagenic, implying the importance of the coplanar character of the nitrophenyl and the purine rings. The nitro group seems essential for the mutagenicity, as shown from the results of assays using nitroarene-sensitive and -insensitive Salmonella strains. The mutagenic potency of this class of compounds is high, comparable to that of 2-nitrofluorene.     

Detoxification of aflatoxin B1 by manganese peroxidase from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1) ) is a potent mycotoxin with mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, hepatotoxic, and immunosuppressive properties. In order to develop a bioremediation system for AFB(1) -contaminated foods by white-rot fungi or ligninolytic enzymes, AFB(1) was treated with manganese peroxidase (MnP) from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624. AFB(1) was eliminated by MnP. The maximum elimination (86.0%) of AFB(1) was observed after 48 h in a reaction mixture containing 5 nkat of MnP. The addition of Tween 80 enhanced AFB(1) elimination. The elimination of AFB(1) by MnP considerably reduced its mutagenic activity in an umu test, and the treatment of AFB(1) by 20 nkat MnP reduced the mutagenic activity by 69.2%. (1) H-NMR and HR-ESI-MS analysis suggested that AFB(1) is first oxidized to AFB(1) -8,9-epoxide by MnP and then hydrolyzed to AFB(1) -8,9-dihydrodiol. This is the first report that MnP can effectively remove the mutagenic activity of AFB(1) by converting it into AFB(1) -8,9-dihydrodiol.     

Quantitation and mapping of aflatoxin B1-induced DNA damage in genomic DNA using aflatoxin B1-8,9-epoxide and microsomal activation systems

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic mycotoxin which may play a role in the etiology of human liver cancer. In vitro studies have shown that AFB1 adducts form primarily at the N7 position of guanine. Using quantitative PCR (QPCR) and ligation-mediated PCR (LMPCR), we have mapped total AFB1 adducts in genomic DNA treated with AFB1-8,9-epoxide and in hepatocytes exposed to AFB1 activated by rat liver microsomes or human liver and enterocyte microsomal preparations. The p53 gene-specific adduct frequencies in DNA, modified in cells with 40-400 microM AFB1, were 0.07-0.74 adducts per kilobase (kb). In vitro modification with 0. 1-4 ng AFB1-8,9-epoxide per microgram DNA produced 0.03-0.58 lesions per kb. The adduct patterns obtained with the epoxide and the different microsomal systems were virtually identical indicating that adducts form with a similar sequence-specificity in vitro and in vivo. The lesions were detected exclusively at guanines with a preference towards GpG and methylated CpG sequences. The methods utilizing QPCR and LMPCR thus provide means to assess gene-specific and sequence-specific AFB1 damage. The results also prove that microsomally-mediated damage is a suitable method for avoiding manipulations with very unstable DNA-reactive metabolites and that this damage can be detected by QPCR and LMPCR.     

Di-epoxides of the three isomeric dicyclopenta-fused pyrenes: ultimate mutagenic active agents

To rationalize the high bacterial mutagenic response recently found for the (di-) cyclopenta-fused pyrene congeners, viz. cyclopenta[cd]-(1), dicyclopenta[cd,mn]-(2), dicyclopenta[cd,fg]-(3) and dicyclopenta[cd,jk]pyrene (4), in the presence of a metabolic activation mixture (S9-mix), their (di-)epoxides at the externally fused unsaturated five-membered rings were previously proposed as the ultimate mutagenic active forms. In this study, cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-3,4-epoxide (5) and the novel dicyclopenta[cd,mn]pyrene-1,2,4,5-di-epoxide (6), dicyclopenta[cd,fg]pyrene-5,6,7,8-di-epoxide (7) and dicyclopenta[cd,jk]pyrene-1,2,6,7-di-epoxide (8) were synthesised from 1 to 4, respectively, and subsequently assayed for bacterial mutagenicity in the standard microsomal/histidine reverse mutation assay (Ames-assay with Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98). The di-epoxides 6-8 are present as a mixture of their cis- and trans-stereo-isomers in a close to 1:1 ratio ((1)H NMR spectroscopy and ab initio IGLO/III//RHF/6-31G** calculations). The direct-acting mutagenic activity and the strong cytotoxicity exerted by 5-8 both in the absence or presence of an exogenous metabolic activation system (+/-S9-mix) demonstrate that the ultimate mutagenic active forms are the proposed (di-)epoxides of 1-4.     

CP-arene oxides: the ultimate, active mutagenic forms of cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs)

The bacterial mutagenic response (Ames-assay, Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98+/-S9-mix) of a series of monocyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CP-PAHs) identified in combustion exhausts, viz. cyclopenta[cd]pyrene (1), acephenanthrylene (2), aceanthrylene (3) and cyclopenta[hi]chrysene (4), is re-evaluated. The mutagenic effects are compared with those exerted by the corresponding partially hydrogenated derivatives, 3,4-dihydrocyclopenta[cd]pyrene (5), 4,5-dihydroacephenanthrylene (6), 1,2-dihydroaceanthrylene (7) and 4,5-dihydrocyclopenta[hi]chrysene (8). It is shown that the olefinic bond of the externally fused five-membered ring of 1, 3 and 4 is of importance for a positive mutagenic response. In contrast, whilst CP-PAH 2 is found inactive, its dihydro analogue (6) shows a weak metabolism-dependent response. The importance of epoxide formation at the external olefinic bond in the five-membered ring is substantiated by the bacterial mutagenic response of independently synthesized cyclopenta[cd]pyrene-3,4-epoxide (9), acephenanthrylene-4,5-epoxide (10), aceanthrylene-1,2-epoxide (11) and cyclopenta[hi]chrysene-4,5-epoxide (12). Their role as ultimate, active mutagenic forms, when CP-PAHs 1, 3 and 4 exhibit a positive mutagenic response, is confirmed. Semi-empirical Austin Model 1 (AM1) calculations on the formation of the CP-arene oxides (9-12) and their conversion into the monohydroxy-carbocations (9a-12a and 9b-12b) via epoxide-ring opening support our results. For 2 and 4, which also possess a bay-region besides an annelated cyclopenta moiety, the calculations rationalize that epoxidation at the olefinic bond of the cyclopenta moiety is favoured.     

Isolation, identification and bacterial mutagenicity of 2-nitro-9-fluorenone from diesel-exhaust particle extracts

Organic extracts of diesel-exhaust particles show direct mutagenic activity in the Salmonella typhimurium bacterial mutagenicity assay. Nitro-aromatic compounds are believed to be responsible for part of the mutagenicity. A previously unidentified polyfunctional nitro-aromatic compound, 2-nitro-9-fluorenone (2N-Fone) was isolated from diesel-exhaust particles using a two-step fractionation scheme consisting of Sephadex LH20 chromatography and silica-gel thin-layer chromatography. Positive identification was by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy and coelution with an authentic standard. Direct and indirect mutagenicities of 2N-Fone in several bacterial strains were also determined. The results indicated that 2N-Fone produces 60-70 rev/nmole of direct mutagenic activity, and is about 1/5 to 1/10 as mutagenic as 1-nitropyrene.     

Mutagenicity of some substituted 1-phenyl-3,3-dimethyltriazenes. I. The salmonella/mammalian microsome assay and repair test

The mutagenic activity and related biological properties of Br-, Cl-, NO2- and CH3-derivatives of 1-(phenyl)-3,3-dimethyltriazene were investigated in Salmonella/microsome assays with standard and preincubation metabolic activation and in the repair test using Salmonella and E. coli B/r. In the repair test, the CH3-derivative was slightly positive in the E. coli recA and uvrA repair system, the NO2-derivative had a killing effect on Salmonella typhimurium uvrB-deficient strains. In Salmonella mutagenicity assays, all tested triazene derivatives reverted frameshift tester strains, especially TA1537. The highest number of frameshift mutations was induced by the CH3-derivative in the presence of a standard metabolic activation system; direct mutagenicity of this derivative was weak, reaching about the same level of activity as seen after preincubation. The only test compound that induced mutations of the base-substitution type was the NO2-derivative; this derivative showed the highest mutagenicity when activated by preincubation.     

Mutagenic activity of the glutathione S-transferase substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay

The mutagenicity of the commonly used glutathione S-transferase substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene (DCNB) was investigated in the Salmonella mutagenicity assay. CDNB induced a concentration-dependent mutagenic response in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98. Incorporation of an activation system derived from Aroclor 1254-induced rats did not influence mutagenic response. Under the same conditions DCNB failed to display mutagenic activity. The mutagenic activity of CDNB was attenuated in bacterial strains under-expressing nitroreductase or O-acetylase activity but, in contrast, it was exaggerated in an O-acetylase over-expressing strain. It is inferred that CDNB exhibits a mutagenic response following reduction of the nitro-group to the hydroxylamine, which is further acetylated to form the acetoxy derivative that presumably breaks down spontaneously to generate the nitrenium ion, the likely ultimate mutagen.     

Intercalation of aflatoxin B1 in two oligodeoxynucleotide adducts: comparative 1H NMR analysis of d(ATCAFBGAT).d(ATCGAT) and d(ATAFBGCAT)2

8,9-Dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATCGAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1.d(ATCGAT) and 8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATGCAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1.8,9-dihydro-8-(N7-guanyl-[d(ATGCAT)])-9-hydroxyaflatoxin B1 were prepared by direct addition of afltoxin B1 8,9-epoxide to d(ATCGAT)2 and d(ATGCAT)2, respectively. In contrast to reaction of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide with d(ATCGAT)2 which exhibits a limiting stoichiometry of 1:1 aflatoxin B1:d(ATCGAT)2 [Gopalakrishnan, S., Stone, M. P., & Harris, T. M. (1989) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111, 7232-7239], reaction of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide with d(ATGCAT)2 exhibits a limiting stoichiometry of 2:1 aflatoxin B1:d(ATGCAT)2. 1H NOE experiments, nonselective 1H T1 relaxation measurements, and 1H chemical shift perturbations demonstrate that in both modified oligodeoxynucleotides the aflatoxin moiety is intercalated above the 5'-face of the modified guanine. The oligodeoxynucleotides remain right-handed, and perturbation of the B-DNA structure is localized adjacent to the adducted guanine. Aflatoxin-oligodeoxynucleotide 1H NOEs are observed between aflatoxin and the 5'-neighbor base pair and include both the major groove and the minor groove. The aflatoxin methoxy and cyclopentenone ring protons face into the minor groove; the furofuran ring protons face into the major groove. No NOE is observed between the imino proton of the modified base pair and the imino proton of the 5'-neighbor base pair; sequential NOEs between nucleotide base and deoxyribose protons are interrupted in both oligodeoxynucleotide strands on the 5'-side of the modified guanine. The protons at C8 and C9 of the aflatoxin terminal furan ring exhibit slower spin-lattice relaxation as compared to other oligodeoxynucleotide protons, which supports the conclusion that they face into the major groove. Increased shielding is observed for aflatoxin protons; chemical shift perturbations of the oligodeoxynucleotide protons are confined to the immediate vicinity of the adducted base pair. The imidazole proton of the modified guanine exchanges with water and is observed at 9.75 ppm. The difference in reaction stoichiometry is consistent with an intercalated transition-state complex between aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide and B-DNA. Insertion of aflatoxin B1-8,9 epoxide above the 5'-face of guanine in d(ATCGAT)2 would prevent the binding of a second molecule of aflatoxin B1 8,9-epoxide. In contrast, two intercalation sites would be available with d(ATGCAT)2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

delta 1-Tetrahydrocannabinol and 1 alpha, 2 alpha-epoxyhexahydrocannabinol: mutagenicity investigation in the Ames test.

1,2-Epoxyhexahydrocannabinol is a metabolite of delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol. Because many epoxides are mutagens, we investigated 1,2-epoxyhexahydrocannabinol as well as delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol for mutagenicity with Salmonella typhimurium TA1535, TA1537, TA98 and TA100 in the presence and in the absence of S9 mix from liver homogenate of rats treated with Aroclor 1254. Additionally, an epoxide hydratase inhibitor was used in some experiments. Whereas several other epoxides and further positive controls, not requiring activation or activated under the same conditions, respectively, showed strong mutagenicity, no indications of a mutagenic hazard by 1,2-epoxyhexahydrocannabinol or by delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol were found.     

Mutagenicity of the malondialdehyde oligomerization products 2-(3'-oxo-1'-propenyl)-malondialdehyde and 2,4-dihydroxymethylene-3-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)glutaraldehyde in Salmonella

Malondialdehyde (MDA), a byproduct of non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation and prostaglandin biosynthesis, has been shown to be a weak frameshift mutagen in Salmonella mutagenicity assays. Because it is a dialdehyde, MDA can undergo self condensation to form polymeric products. It is possible that these condensation products are highly mutagenic and have contributed to previously reported estimates of MDA mutagenicity. We synthesized two major MDA polymerization products, (1) 2-(3'-oxo-1'-propenyl)-malondialdehyde [(MDA)2] and (2) 2,4-dihydroxymethylene-3-(2,2-dimethoxyethyl)glutaraldehyde [(MDA)3Me2] and tested their mutagenicity in the Salmonella frameshift tester strains hisD3052 and TA94 (hisD3052/pKM101). Analysis of the reversion rates revealed both (MDA)2 and (MDA)3Me2 to be weak mutagens, approximately equipotent to MDA. Although both (MDA)2 and (MDA)3Me2 are mutagenic, the fact that their formation is thermodynamically unfavorable under physiological conditions suggests they do not contribute significantly to the mutagenicity of MDA solutions.     

Isolation of the mutagenic and DNA adduct-inducing components from a commercial preparation of HC blue 1 using Salmonella (TA98) bioassay-directed HPLC fractionation.

In the present study we report the separation of the mutagenic impurities from the nitrophenylenediamine hair dye HC Blue 1. This was accomplished by bioassay-directed HPLC fractionation, using Salmonella strain TA98 and reverse phase HPLC analysis. The mutagenic fraction eluted between 80 and 90% methanol, whereas the HPLC fraction containing the parent compound HC Blue 1 eluted with 30% methanol and was non-mutagenic. 100% of the mutagenic activity applied to the column was recovered in fractions that did not possess the blue color of HC Blue 1. Also, HPLC-purified HC Blue 1 did not form DNA adducts (32P-postlabeling) in Salmonella strain TA98. On the other hand, commercial HC Blue 1 and the mutagenic fraction derived from commercial HC Blue 1 (HPLC-isolated) gave similar DNA-adduct profiles that consisted of 7 adducts. DNA adduction was examined concomitantly with mutagenicity and toxicity studies on the HC Blue 1 samples in TA98. The data indicated that, in Salmonella, both the mutagenicity and DNA adduction of commercial HC Blue 1 are due to impurities and not the parent compound.     

Mutagenic potency in Salmonella typhimurium of organic extracts of soil samples originating from urban, suburban, agricultural, forest and natural areas

The purpose of the present work was to assess the mutagenic potency of soil samples presumably not contaminated by industrial wastes and discharges. A set of 51 soil samples was collected from areas considered as not contaminated by a known industrial activity: 11 urban samples (collected in cities), 15 suburban samples (collected in villages), 7 agricultural samples, and 18 forest or natural samples. Each soil sample was collected at the surface (0-5cm deep), dried, sieved (2mm), homogenized before organic extraction (dichloromethane/acetone 1/1 (v/v), 37 degrees C, 4h, soil/solvent ratio 1/2, m/v), solvent exchange to DMSO and sterilizing filtration. The micro-method adaptation of the standard bacterial mutagenicity test on Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 was performed with and without a metabolic activation system (rat-liver homogenate S9), and thus detected the effect of pro-mutagens and direct mutagens, respectively. The use of a pre-incubation method increased the sensitivity of the assay. The results obtained showed a wide range of effect levels, from no effect to clear mutagenicity. In particular, the extract of all 11 urban soil samples demonstrated mutagenic activity, while the extracts of 10 of the 15 suburban samples showed mutagenicity. On the other hand, the extract of only one of the 7 agricultural samples studied induced mutations, and none of the 18 natural or forest-soil samples investigated produced mutagenic extracts. These findings seem to indicate the crucial influence of the diffuse pollution originating from different human activities on the mutagenic potency of urban soil samples. These findings make it possible to classify the soils according to their mutagenic potency. No clear correlation was found between the mutagenicity detected in soil extracts and the measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content of the soils investigated.     

Genotoxicity and metabolism of the source-water contaminant 1,1-dichloropropene: activation by GSTT1-1 and structure-activity considerations

1,1-Dichloropropene (1,1-DCPe) is a contaminant of some source waters used to make drinking water. Because of this and the fact that no toxicological data were available for this compound, which is structurally similar to the rodent carcinogen 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-DCPe), 1,1-DCPe was placed on the Contaminant Candidate List of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Consequently, we have performed a hazard characterization of 1,1-DCPe by evaluating its mutagenicity in the Salmonella assay and its DNA damaging (comet assay) and apoptotic (caspase assay) activities in human lymphoblastoid cells. In Salmonella, 1,1-DCPe was not mutagenic in strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, or TA104 +/-S9 mix. However, it was clearly mutagenic in strain RSJ100, which expresses the rat GSTT1-1 gene. 1,1-DCPe did not induce DNA damage in GSTT1-1-deficient human lymphoblastoid cells, and it induced apoptosis in these cells only at 5 mM. Consistent with its mutagenesis in RSJ100, 1,1-DCPe reacted with glutathione (GSH) in vitro, suggesting an addition-elimination mechanism to account for the detected GSH conjugate. 1,1-DCPe was approximately 5000 times more mutagenic than its ethene congener 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE or vinylidene chloride). Neither 1,1-DCE nor 1,3-DCPe showed enhanced mutagenicity in strain RSJ100, indicating a lack of activation of these congeners by GSTT1-1. Thus, 1,1-DCPe is a base-substitution mutagen requiring activation by GSTT1-1, possibly involving the production of a reactive episulfonium ion. This bioactivation mechanism of 1,1-DCPe is different from that of its congeners 1,1-DCE and 1,3-DCPe. The presence of 1,1-DCPe in source waters could pose an ecological or human health risk. Occurrence data for 1,1-DCPe in finished drinking water are needed to estimate human exposure to, and possible health risks from, this mutagenic compound.     

The effect of tobacco smoke, nicotine, and cotinine on the mutagenicity of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL).

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a rodent carcinogen that is metabolically derived from carbonyl reduction of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). NNAL can be pyridine N-oxidized to form NNAL-N-oxide, or conjugated to form NNAL-glucuronide - non-genotoxic metabolites that can be excreted in urine. Alternatively, NNAL can be alpha-hydroxylated at the methyl and methylene carbons adjacent to the nitroso group to generate electrophiles that can react with biological macromolecules, such as DNA and proteins. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that the mutagenicity of NNK was significantly inhibited by the aqueous extract of tobacco smoke, as well as pyridine alkaloids in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, cotinine and nornicotine. Given the structural similarity between NNK and NNAL, and the metabolic activation of both by cytochromes P450, we hypothesized that there may be a similar inhibition of NNAL metabolism, and consequently, inhibition of the mutagenic activity of NNAL by tobacco smoke and its pyridine alkaloid constituents. In the present study, we evaluated the ability of two pyridine alkaloids (nicotine and cotinine) and aqueous cigarette smoke condensate extract (ACTE) to inhibit the mutagenicity of NNAL in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA1535 in the presence of a metabolic activation system (S9). Both pyridine alkaloids tested, as well as ACTE, inhibited the mutagenicity of NNAL in a concentration-dependent manner. The observed reductions in mutagenicity were not the result of cell killing due to cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that tobacco smoke contains pyridine alkaloids, as well as other unidentified constituents that inhibit the mutagenicity of NNAL, a major metabolite of NNK.     

Mutagenicity studies on coffee. The influence of different factors on the mutagenic activity in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome assay

Recently, mutagenic activity on several strains of Salmonella typhimurium has been found in many heat-processed foodstuffs. The previously reported direct-acting mutagenic activity of coffee in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 (Ames assay) was confirmed in our study. In addition to TA100, a mutagenic effect of coffee was also found by using the newly developed strain TA102. The mutagenic activity was abolished by the addition of rat-liver homogenate. 10% S9 mix completely eliminated the mutagenic activity of 30 mg of coffee per plate. The addition of reduced glutathione to active S9 further decreased the mutagenic activity and also reduced the mutagenicity together with inactivated S9. The compound or compounds responsible for this inactivation are heat-labile and seem to be located in the cytosol fraction of the S9. Part of the mutagenicity of coffee was also lost spontaneously upon incubation at temperatures between 0 degrees and 50 degrees C. The loss of activity was dependent on temperature, being more pronounced at 50 degrees C compared to 0 degrees C (at 50 degrees C approximately 50% of the mutagenic activity was lost after 6 h). As anaerobic conditions prevented this loss of mutagenicity almost totally, oxidative processes are probably responsible for the inactivation. The stability of the mutagen was not influenced by incubation at low pH values (pH 1-3), with or without the addition of pepsinogen. The mutagenic properties of methylglyoxal, which to some extent could be responsible for the mutagenic activity of coffee, were compared with those of coffee. Methylglyoxal was strongly mutagenic towards Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA102. Its mutagenic activity was partially inactivated by the addition of 10% S9. Glyoxalase I and II together with reduced glutathione abolished the mutagenic activity of methylglyoxal but reduced the mutagenicity of coffee by only 80%. Since these enzymes occur in mammalian cells, the mutagenic compound(s) of coffee could also be degraded in vivo. This conclusion is supported by the fact that a long-term carcinogenicity study with rats was negative. These results clearly demonstrate that the effects observed in vitro do not necessarily also occur in vivo, but that in vitro experiments may contribute to the understanding of fundamental mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis.     

Structure-activity relationships for unsaturated dialdehydes. 1. The mutagenic activity of 18 compounds in the Salmonella/microsome assay

A considerable number of terpenes that contain an "unsaturated dialdehyde" functionality, and possess various biological activities, such as antimicrobial activity, pungency, antifeedant activity, and/or mutagenicity, have been isolated from natural sources. However, large qualitative and quantitative activity differences have been observed for the natural unsaturated dialdehydes, and small structural changes (e.g., stereoisomerization) seem to dramatically affect the biological activity. As part of a general attempt to study structure-activity relationships for unsaturated dialdehydes, the activity of compounds 1-18 (Table 1) in the Salmonella/microsome assay (strains TA98, TA2637 and TA100) has been investigated. 10 of the compounds were found to possess direct-acting mutagenic activity, although the mutagenic potencies vary considerably in this group (from 430 to 0.32 revertants per nmole in the Salmonella strain TA2637). Some structural features that appear to moderate the activity are discussed. The necessity of an intact unsaturated dialdehyde functionality for the mutagenic activity of isovelleral (1) (see Scheme 1 for names, numbers, and chemical structures) in the Salmonella/microsome assay was demonstrated by chemical conversions: modification of either aldehyde group or reduction of the double bond led to loss of activity.     

Genotoxic and mutagenic activity of environmental air samples from different rural, urban and industrial sites in Flanders, Belgium

The present study reports mutagenic and genotoxic activities associated with ambient air collected at 15 sites characteristic for urban, industrial or rural conditions in Flanders. Airborne particulates (PM10) and semi-volatile compounds were collected on quartz filters (QF) and polyurethane foam (PUF) cartridges using a high-volume sampling device. The mutagenic and genotoxic potency of the organic extracts--Soxhlet extraction with acetone--was determined by use of the Salmonella mutagenicity standard plate-incorporation assay and the Vitotox assay, respectively. Concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the extracts were determined by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ambient air samples contained significant PAH levels and mutagenic activities at all 15 sites: direct mutagenicity of up to 47 revertants per cubic meter was found in the QF extracts and more limited activity of up to 11 rev m(-3) in the PUF extracts. Metabolic activation of PUF extracts resulted in an important increase in mutagenic activity, up to 30 rev m(-3), but no such increase was observed for QF extracts. The highest values were observed outside large cities at industrial sites and at a rural site contaminated by pollution from a chemical plant at a distance of 4 km. Also at the background location near the North Sea a significant mutagenic activity was measured in the QF extracts (+S9: 9 rev m(-3); -S9: 7 rev m(-3)). Apparently, there is in Flanders a significant background exposure level to airborne mutagenicity, even in areas with limited or no nearby pollution sources. Based on the concentrations of 10 mutagenic PAHs and supposing additivity of their specific mutagenicities, only a few percent (mean 3%) of the observed indirect mutagenic activity could be explained. This implies that most mutagenic activity originated from other substances that were not identified or measured in our chemical analysis. This underscores the importance of bio-monitoring measurements.     

Reduction in Ames Salmonella mutagenicity of mainstream cigarette smoke condensate by tobacco protein removal

The mutagenic activity of cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) made from tobacco before and after removal of protein was assessed by the Ames Salmonella assay in bacterial strains TA98 and TA100. Removal of protein and peptides from flue-cured tobacco via water extraction followed by protease digestion reduced the mutagenicity of the resultant CSC by 80% in the TA98 strain and 50% in the TA100 strain. Similarly, reductions of 81% in TA98 and 54% in TA100 were seen following water extraction and protease digestion of burley tobacco. The significant reductions in Ames mutagenicity following protein removal suggest that protein pyrolysis products are a principal contributor to the genotoxicity of CSC as measured in this assay.     

Xanthobacter sp. C20 contains a novel bioconversion pathway for limonene

Xanthobacter sp. C20 was isolated from sediment of the river Rhine using cyclohexane as sole source of carbon and energy. Xanthobacter sp. C20 converted both enantiomers of limonene quantitatively into limonene-8,9-epoxide, a not previously described bioconversion product of limonene. With (4R)-limonene, (4R,8R)-limonene-8, 9-epoxide was formed as the only reaction product, while (4S)-limonene was converted into a (78:22) mixture of (4S,8R)- and (4S,8S)-limonene-8,9-epoxide. Cytochrome P-450 was shown to be induced concomitantly with limonene bioconversion activity following growth of Xanthobacter sp. C20 on cyclohexane. Maximal limonene bioconversion rate was observed at an initial substrate concentration of 12 mM. The amount of limonene-8,9-epoxide formed, up to 0.8 g l(-1), was limited by a strong product inhibition.