title: Mutagenicity studies with N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid.
abstract: Analytical studies have reported that N-acetyl-L-aspartic acid (NAA) is present at low concentrations in many foods. The current studies were conducted to assess the mutagenicity of NAA using standard OECD guideline in vitro bacterial and in vivo mammalian mutagenicity studies. For comparison and control data, mutagenicity studies were also conducted with its constituent amino acid L-aspartate (ASP) because NAA is metabolized to ASP. The combination of an in vitro method for assessing point mutations in bacteria and an in vivo method to assess clastogenicity in an animal model provided adequate evidence for mutagenicity hazard assessment of NAA. No evidence of mutagenicity was observed in either test system with either NAA or ASP. The results from the current studies demonstrate that the presence of NAA in foods is not likely to represent a risk for mutagenicity.
authors.affiliation: DuPont Company, Toxicology, 2450 SE Oak Tree Ct., Ankeny, IA 50021, USA.
authors.forename: Sule
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Abby
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Myhre
authors.forename: E Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Donner
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Munley
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Delaney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D001224:Aspartic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate