Comparative study of the antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E in different E. coli strains

The antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E due to its antioxidative properties was studied. The new Escherichia coli K12 assay-system designed in our laboratory was employed in order to detect the antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E and to determine its molecular mechanisms of action. The assay is composed of three tests. In Test A, we examine the influence of the antioxidant on induced oxidative mutagenesis in a repair-proficient strain. Spontaneous mutagenesis is monitored in Test B, which is performed with two mutator strains, one mismatch repair-deficient (mutS) and another deficient in 8-oxo-dGTP-ase activity (mutT). In Test M, a repair-proficient strain and its mismatch repair-deficient counterpart (mutH), both carrying a plasmid with microsatellite sequences, are used to measure the level of microsatellite instability. To examine the antimutagenic potential of Vitamin E we also used the WP2 antimutagenicity test. Protective properties of Vitamin E against oxidative mutagenesis were detected in all tests with the E. coli K12 assay-system as well as in the WP2 antimutagenicity test. This study confirms that mismatch repair is essential for repair of oxidative DNA damage. The results obtained indicate that Vitamin E prevents the formation of DNA adducts by lipid peroxidation products rather than those formed by direct oxidation of DNA bases. Moreover, it can reduce microsatellite instability. After further validation, the new E. coli K12 assay-system can be used to test the antimutagenic potential of antioxidants.