title: Literature survey of bacterial, fungal, and Drosophila assay systems used in the evaluation of selected chemical compounds for mutagenic activity.
abstract: Literature reports were surveyed, with results noted from experiments in seven nonmammalian assay systems used for the detection of mutagenicity or other related genetic effects. A comparison was made of the activities of 54 selected noncarcinogens, procarcinogens, and ultimate carcinogens as revealed by these test systems. Of the compounds tested, 49 (91%) were active in one or more of the assays, and 42 (78%) were positive in at least one system without having to be metabolically activated. In one or more test systems, 17/17 (100%) of the ultimate carcinogens, 27/28 (96%) of the procarcinogens, and 6/9 (67%) of the noncarcinogens were positive. The Ames Salmonella-microsome assay responded with increased mutation frequency to 37/44 (84%) of the carcinogenic compounds but to only 2/8 (25%) of the noncarcinogens tested. The Drosophila system responded to 19/21 (90%) of the carcinogens and to 3/6 (50%) of the noncarcinogens. Prophages were induced when lysogenic bacteria were exposed to 12/21 (57%) of the carcinogens, but not enough tests were done with the noncarcinogens (1/3, or 33%) for a comparison. The other systems reviewed, such as the killing of repair-deficient bacteria, mutations in Escherichia coli and Neurospora crassa, and the host-mediated assay, were not challenged by enough of the compounds for valid comparisons.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003090:Coliphages / Q000187:drug effects; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000187:drug effects; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation / Q000187:drug effects; D009492:Neurospora crassa / Q000187:drug effects; D010957:Plasmids / Q000187:drug effects; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D009153:Mutagens