Evaluation of the mutagenicity and DNA-modifying activity of carcinogens and noncarcinogens in microbial systems

The mutagenicity of 99 chemicals was determined in a standard Salmonella typhimurium assay with the use of strains TA1535 and TA1538; the DNA-modifying capacity was determined with normal and DNA polymerase-deficient Escherichia coli strains. The following categories of chemicals were studied: alkylating agents (15); nitrosamines, hydrazines, and related substances (8); heterocyclics (10); aromatic amines (36); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (11); amides, ureas, and acylating agents (7); antimetabolites (5); inorganics (4); and promoters (3). Of the substances studied, 21 were known noncarcinogens, 21 were ultimate carcinogens, and 45 were procarcinogens. Of the noncarcinogens, 35, 30, and 25% were positive in the Salmonella, E. coli, and both systems, respectively. All of the ultimate carcinogens were detectable as mutagens of DNA-modifying agents; 79, 100, and 79% gave positive tests in the Salmonella, E. coli, and both systems, respectively. Of the procarcinogens 72% were identifiable by these procedures: 52, 67, and 48% in the Salmonella, E. coli, and both assays, respectively. A tabulation of the combined data for ultimate carcinogens and procarcinogens indicates that 77% of the carcinogens gave positive results: 61, 74, and 59% in the Salmonella, E. coli, and both assays, respectively. We suggest that, for prescreening procedures with microbial assays, S. typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 be included and the standard E. coli DNA polymerase-deficient assay be run in tandem with the Salmonella mutagenicity assay. When the standard E. coli DNA polymerase-deficient assay does not give interpretable results because of the lack of zones of growth inhibition, a modified assay with the use of liquid suspension should be performed.