title: Frameshift mutations: relative roles of simple intercalation and of adduct formation.
abstract: The contribution of "simple" intercalation and of adduct formation on the expression of frameshift mutations in Salmonella typhimurium was investigated using 9-aminoacridine and derivatives capable of either only intercalating between DNA base pairs or of forming adducts with DNA as well. For a chemical capable of intercalating as well as of forming an adduct, only a small portion of the frameshift mutagenicity is due to "simple" intercalation. Analogs only able to induce frameshift mutations as a result of intercalation generally display only a fraction (approx. 1%) of the frameshift activity of the analog capable of forming DNA adducts.
mesh_terms: D000609:Aminoacridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005815:Genetic Code; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000235:genetics; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000609:Aminoacridines; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009153:Mutagens