title: Mutagenic activity of ascorbate in mammalian cell cultures.
abstract: Exposure of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to solutions of ascorbate (2--5 x 10(-4) M) resulted in the induction of somatic mutations at the hypoxanthineguanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) locus. Mutant cells were resistant to 6-thioguanine (10 microgram/ml) and sensitive to HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine) medium. Doses of ascorbate which were mutagenic were also toxic. Addition of catalase to such ascorbate concentrations prevented both mutagenesis and toxicity. This suggests that mutagenic metabolites of ascorbate may involve peroxide radicals.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D006224:Cricetinae; D003470:Culture Media; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D009153:Mutagens; D009154:Mutation; D010053:Ovary; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D009153:Mutagens; D002374:Catalase; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; D013866:Thioguanine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid