Bacterial systems in the detection of the genotoxic activity of diethyl pyrocarbonate
Santini, P.; Moretton, J.; D'Aquino, M.
Revista Latinoamericana de Microbiologia 27(2): 157-162
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0187-4640 PMID: 3934727 Document Number: 246947
The genetic-toxicity of the food additive diethyl pyrocarbonate, and its degradation product urethane, was investigated using bacterial systems for mutagens detection. These systems are based on back mutation of Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 (his-) and Bacillus subtilis BSA 170 (trp-, ura-) and on transformation of B. subtilis BSA 170 to tryptophan independence. The transformation test was done with DNA from B. subtilis (wild type) pretreated with the studied compounds. Diethyl pyrocarbonate did not show any activity with bacterial systems. Transforming DNA treatment with urethrane in high concentration (50 .mu.g/ml) resulted in a decrease of its biological activity i.e., a decrease in transformation frequency; S-9 mix partially annuled this effect. The mechanism of DNA inactivations is still not clear.