Mutagenic and comutagenic action of 5'-deoxy-5'-(methylthio)adenosine

5'-Deoxy-5'-(methylthio)adenosine (MTA) alone and in combination with methionine was found to increase frequencies of background HGPRT mutation and SCE in V79 Chinese hamster cells. The same agents exert a comutagenic action on these effects as well as upon mutation induction in Escherichia coli stain AB1157 (but not in its non-adaptable derivative ada-6) following treatment with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). MTA plus methionine also enhanced the lethal action of MNU on hamster cells. The effects observed may tentatively be ascribed to hypomethylation due to inhibition of DNA methylase by MTA.