Detection of the mutagenic activity of lead chromate using a battery of microbial tests

Mutation Research/Genetic ToxicologyPublished 1 April 1979

Earle R. Nestmann, T.I. Matula, George R. Douglas, Kushal Bora, David Kowbel

Citations93

TL;DR

It appears that the chromate ion is responsible for the mutagenicity of lead chromate.

Abstract

The potential mutagenicity of the carcinogen lead chromate was tested by the following battery of microbial tests: the Escherichia coli PolA+/PolA- survival test; the Salmonella/microsome His+ reversion assay; the E. coli Trp+ reversion test as a plate assay; the E. coli Gal+ forward mutation test; and the Saccharomyces cerevisiae assay for mitotic recombination. Lead chromate is mutagenic in Salmonella and in Saccharomyces and is thus identified as a microbial mutagen by this battery. Metabolic activation by rat liver homogenate (S9) is not required for the mutagenic activity of lead chromate. The most statistically significant, positive result is found with a supplementary assay, the E. coli fluctuation test. To determine whether the lead ion and/or the chromate ion were responsible for the mutagenicity observed, lead chloride and chromium trioxide (chromic acid) were also tested. In E. coli fluctuation test, the ranges of maximal mutagenicity for chromium trioxide and lead chromate overlap at the concentration 10(-5)M, whereas lead chloride shows no mutagenicity and little lethality at concentrations up to 10(-3)M. Thus, it appears that the chromate ion is responsible for the mutagenicity of lead chromate.

Keywords

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular BiologyEnvironmental Science

Mutation Research/Environmental Mutagenesis and Related SubjectsMethods for detecting carcinogens and mutagens with the salmonella/mammalian-microsome mutagenicity test

7,414 Citations1975Bruce N. Ames, Joyce McCann +1 more

The methods described include the standard plate test, the use and storage of the bacterial tester strains, preparation and use of the liver homogenates, and the methods of inducing the rats for elevated microsomal enzyme activity.

Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesCarcinogens are Mutagens: A Simple Test System Combining Liver Homogenates for Activation and Bacteria for Detection

2,284 Citations1973Bruce N. Ames, William E. Durston +2 more

It is proposed that a ring system sufficiently planar for a stacking interaction with DNA base pairs and a part of the molecule capable of being metabolized to a reactive group are discussed in terms of the theory of frameshift mutagenesis.

View PDF

Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of MutagenesisTables for determining the statistical significance of mutation frequencies

973 Citations1970Marvin A. Kastenbaum, K.O. Bowman

Mutation Research/Environmental Mutagenesis and Related SubjectsMutagen testing using TRP+ reversion in Escherichia coli

440 Citations1976M.H.L. Green, W.J. Muriel

Escherichia coli strain WP2 and its repair-deficient derivatives are suitable strains for mutagen screening because agents which cause base substitution mutations can be shown to increase the frequency of Trp+ revertants.

Mutation Research/Environmental Mutagenesis and Related SubjectsMutagenic activities of metal compounds in bacteria

396 Citations1975H. Nishioka

In the present report, 56 metal compounds were tested by the rec-assay and their capacities to induce reversions in E. coli Trp/sup -/ strains possessing different DNA repair pathways were examined.

Mutation Research/Environmental Mutagenesis and Related SubjectsUse of a simplified fluctuation test to detect low levels of mutagens

251 Citations1976M.H.L. Green, W.J. Muriel +1 more

A modification of the Luria and Delbrück fluctuation test in which the individual tubes are scored by eye for the presence or absence of a mutation appears to induce more mutations than might be predicted by extrapolation from short exposure experiments at higher doses.

NatureMutagenicity of chromates in bacteria and its relevance to chromate carcinogenesis

243 Citations1974S. Venitt, Leonard S. Levy

In epidemiological studies Bidstrup and Case4 reported a significantly high lung cancer mortality in men who worked in chromate-producing factories, and concluded that the most likely explanation of this increased risk was due to an occupational carcinogen.

PubMedRapid detection of mutagens and carcinogens.

214 Citations1971E E Slater, M.D. Anderson +1 more

Bacteria deficient in DNA polymerase are much more sensitive to agents that alter cellular DNA than the parent strain from which they were derived, and advantage can be taken of this greater sensitivity to screen for potential mutagens and carcinogens.

Applied and Environmental MicrobiologyToxicity and Mutagenicity of Hexavalent Chromium on <i>Salmonella typhimurium</i>

208 Citations1977F. L. Petrilli, Silvio De Flora

View PDF

Mutation Research/Environmental Mutagenesis and Related SubjectsChromosomal aberrations and morphological transformation in hamster embryonic cells treated with potassium dichromate in vitro

105 Citations1977Hirohisa Tsuda, Kyoko Kato

The addition of K2Cr2O7, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 microng/ml, to hamster total embryonic cells for 24 h resulted in consistent and drastic chromosomal aberrations including gaps, breaks and exchanges.