[Structure-function characterization of phenanthridinium compounds as mutagens in salmonella and yeast]

The relation between the mutagenic activities and chemical structure of phenanthridinium derivatives were tested by using Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 98 and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The 3,8-diamino analog and amino-azido isomers caused frameshift type mutation in Salmonella. However, mutagenicity was severely reduced for the diazido analog, and mutagenic activities of monoamino and monoazido analogs were minimal. The deaminated analog was not mutagenic. Diamino analog and two amino-azido isomers induced mitochondrial mutation of yeast in both resting and growing conditions. Two monoamino and deaminated analogs were mutagenic only in growing yeast but not in resting cells. Two monoazido and diazido analogs were less mutagenic even in the growing conditions.