title: Mutagenicity of substituted phenanthrenes in Salmonella typhimurium.
abstract: An extensive series of alkylated phenanthrenes was assayed for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100. Among the alkylated phenanthrenes assayed, 1-methylphenanthrene, 9-methylphenanthrene, 1,4-dimethylphenanthrene and 4,10-dimethylphenanthrene were active as mutagens. These studies suggest that the structural requirements favoring mutagenic activity among alkylated phenanthrenes are inhibition of 9,10-dihydrodiol formation and the presence of an unsubstituted angular ring adjacent to a free peri position. The mutagenic activities of 9-fluoro-, 9-chloro-, and 9-bromo-phenanthrene were also evaluated. The positive mutagenic response of these halogenated phenanthrenes further supports the observation that inhibition of 9,10-dihydrodiol formation among substituted phenanthrenes favors mutagenic activity.
mesh_terms: D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D010616:Phenanthrenes