Evaluation of the Escherichia coli K12 inductest for detection of potential chemical carcinogens.
46 chemicals of diverse classes and structures, including 30 known animal carcinogens, were evaluated for prophage-inducing ability using the Escherichia coli inductest with lysogenic strain GY5027 envA - uvrB- and indicator strain GY4015 ampR . The inductest detected 9 of 30 known carcinogens as genotoxic agents, including 3 polycyclic hydrocarbons, 2 aflatoxins, and 2 antitumor antimicrobials. Among the 21 carcinogens ineffective as prophage inducers were 3 aromatic amines (other than 2-aminoanthracene), 3 azo-aminoazo compounds, 2 methanesulfonates, and 2 nitro aromatics. In contrast, 18 and 17 of the 30 animal carcinogens were detected as genotoxic agents in the Salmonella/Ames test and E. coli WP2/ WP100 rec assay, respectively. The threshold sensitivity of the inductest was less than that of the Salmonella/Ames test for chemicals genotoxic in both tests. The ineffectiveness of the inductest as a routine test for detecting potential chemical carcinogens may be related to the nature of the DNA damage lesions formed by various genotoxic agents.
D000818:Animals; D001711:Biotransformation; D002273:Carcinogens; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics*; D008242:Lysogeny / Q000187:drug effects*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D009153:Mutagens; D051381:Rats
D002273:Carcinogens; D009153:Mutagens