Gene-mutation induction by arsenic compounds in the mouse lymphoma assay.
Arsenic compounds are generally considered as poor inducers of gene mutations. To investigate the mutagenicity of several arsenic compounds at the thymidine kinase (Tk) gene, a reporter gene for mutation induction, we used the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA). This test is widely applied and detects a broad spectrum of mutational events, from point mutations to chromosome alterations. The selected arsenic compounds were two inorganic (sodium arsenite and arsenic trioxide) and four organic compounds (monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, tetraphenylarsenium and arsenobetaine). The results show that sodium arsenite, arsenic trioxide, monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid are mutagenic, showing a clear dose-response pattern. On the other hand, tetraphenylarsenium and arsenobetaine are not mutagenic. Inorganic arsenic compounds are the more potent agents producing significant effects in the micromolar range, while the mutagenic organic arsenic compounds induce similar effects but in the millimolar range.
Soriano
Carolina
C
Grup de Mutagènesi, Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Edifici Cn, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.
Creus
Amadeu
A
Marcos
Ricard
R
D000818:Animals; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007940:Leukemia L5178 / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000235:genetics
D001152:Arsenicals; D013937:Thymidine Kinase