title: Mutagenic effect of mercury (II) in eukaryotic cells.
abstract: Acute exposure of KB and Chinese hamster ovary cells (AS52) to low concentrations of mercury (II) results in a dose dependent binding of mercury to DNA. This binding of mercury (II) to the DNA occurs at concentrations of mercury that have little if any effect on glutatione levels or on superoxide dismutase activity. Mutational studies with AS52 cells demonstrated that concentrations (0.1 to 0.4 microM) of mercury (II) which were not cytotoxic caused an increase (1.7 to 3.1) in the frequency of mutations in the gpt gene when compared to non-treated controls. These results suggest that there may be risks associated with exposure to non-cytotoxic levels of mercury (II).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Holliday
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D007624:KB Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D008628:Mercury / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity*; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D010053:Ovary; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D004247:DNA; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; D008628:Mercury; D005978:Glutathione; C029823:mercuric acetate