[The plasmid pEJ6.6 carrying the activated c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene increases the mutation frequency in Chinese hamster...

The induction of gene mutations and chromosome aberrations by the plasmid pEJ6.6 carrying the activated c-Ha-ras-1 oncogene from human bladder carcinoma was studied in cultured Chinese hamster cells. Both an increase in the frequency of gene mutations to 6-mercaptopurine resistance and of chromosome aberrations was observed after pEJ6.6 treatment as compared to control series (pBR322). Thus the results of experiments carried out show that the pEJ6.6 plasmid possesses a mutagenic activity.