enng and 2-nitrofluorene

The mutational specificities of various chemical mutagens were compared in isogenic E. coli strains with different DNA repair capabilities (wild-type, uvrA, umuC, and uvrA umuC) in a reversion assay employing a set of mutant lacZ genes that can detect two types of transitions, four types of transversions, and five kinds of specific frameshift events. A uvrA derivative was more sensitive than the wild-type strain to 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone for +1G, -1G, -2(C-G), +1A and -1A frameshifts, G.C-->A.T transitions, and G.C-->T.A transversions. In a uvrA background, G.C-->T.A transversions and +1G, +1A, and -1A frameshifts appeared to be umuC-dependent, while G.C-->A.T transitions were not. N-Ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine was more mutagenic in a uvrA background for five kinds of frameshifts and G.C-->A.T transitions, but not for G.C-->T.A, A.T-->C.G, and A.T-->G.C base substitutions. A.T-->C.G transversions were totally dependent on umuC gene function. For the investigation of mutational specificities induced by frameshift mutagens, an rfa mutation was additionally introduced. The rfa strain responded to 2-nitrofluorene, which induced primarily -2(C-G) frameshift mutations. In an rfa uvrA background, benzo[a]pyrene induced +1G, -1G, +1A, and -1A frameshifts. 2-Aminoanthracene induced +1G, -1G, and +1A, but not -1A, frameshifts, with -1G frameshifts predominating. Ethidium bromide induced only two types of frameshifts, -1G and +1A. Frameshifts induced by ICR-170 were independent of umuC gene function, while those by induced 1-nitropyrene were partly umuC-dependent.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Aminoacridines; Anthracenes; Bacterial Proteins; Benzo(a)pyrene; beta-Galactosidase; DNA Ligases; DNA Repair; DNA-Binding Proteins; DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Proteins; Ethidium; Fluorenes; Frameshift Mutation; Furans; Genes, Bacterial; Glycosyltransferases; Lac Operon; Methotrexate; Methylnitronitrosoguanidine; Mutagenesis; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Nitrogen Mustard Compounds; Point Mutation; Pyrenes; Species Specificity; Suppression, Genetic