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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Assessment of Chemical Toxicity in Adult Drosophila Melanogaster
Published on: March 24, 2023
Quantitative structure-activity relationships for toxicity and genotoxicity of halogenated aliphatic compounds: wing
Karel Chroust1, Martina Pavlová, Zbynek Prokop
1Department of Molecular Biology, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic. chroust@sci.muni.cz
Abstract:
Halogenated aliphatic compounds were evaluated for toxic and genotoxic effects in the somatic mutation and recombination test employing Drosophila melanogaster. The tested chemicals included chlorinated, brominated and iodinated; mono-, di- and tri-substituted; saturated and unsaturated alkanes: 1,2-dibromoethane, 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1-iodopropane, 2,3-dichloropropene, 3-bromo-1-propene, epibromohydrin, 2-iodobutane, 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, 1,2,3-trichloropropane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dichlorobutane, 1-chloro-2-methylpropane, 1,3-dichloropropane, 1,2-dichloropropane, 2-chloroethymethylether, 1-bromo-2-methylpropane and 1-chloropentane. N-methyl-N-nitrosourea served as the positive and distilled water as the negative control. The set of chemicals for the toxicological testing was selected by the use of statistical experiment design. Group of unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons were generally more toxic than saturated analogues. The genotoxic effect was observed with 14 compounds in the wing spot test, while 3 substances did not show any genotoxicity by using the wing spot test at 50% lethal concentration. The highest number of wing spots was observed in genotoxicity assay with 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane and 1-iodopropane. Nucleophilic superdelocalizability calculated by quantum mechanics appears to be a good parameter for prediction of both toxicity and genotoxicity effects of halogenated aliphatic compounds.
Insights
This study assessed the toxicity and genotoxicity of halogenated aliphatic compounds using Drosophila melanogaster. Unsaturated compounds were more toxic, and nucleophilic superdelocalizability predicted these effects.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Genetics
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Halogenated aliphatic compounds are widely used but pose potential health risks.
- Understanding their toxic and genotoxic potential is crucial for risk assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the toxic and genotoxic effects of various halogenated aliphatic compounds.
- To identify structure-activity relationships for these effects.
- To assess the predictive power of quantum mechanical parameters.
Main Methods:
- Somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Statistical experiment design for chemical selection.
- Wing spot test for genotoxicity assessment.
- Quantum mechanical calculations (nucleophilic superdelocalizability).
Main Results:
- Unsaturated halogenated aliphatic hydrocarbons generally exhibited higher toxicity than saturated analogues.
- Genotoxic effects were observed in 14 out of 17 tested compounds.
- 1-bromo-2-chloroethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane, and 1-iodopropane showed the highest genotoxic potential.
- Nucleophilic superdelocalizability effectively predicted both toxicity and genotoxicity.
Conclusions:
- Halogenated aliphatic compounds display varying toxic and genotoxic profiles.
- The degree of saturation and halogenation influences the observed effects.
- Quantum mechanical calculations offer a valuable tool for predicting the toxicological properties of these compounds.
