GENETIC EFFECTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS

Objective

1) STUDY OF MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENS AND CARCINOGENS AT DNA LEVEL. 2) RELATE BIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF CHEMICAL MUTAGENS TO THE EXTENT AND SITE OF REACTION BETWEEN THE MUTAGENS AND DNA.
A simple method has been developed for precise determination of chemical lethality using the ARA test with the bacterium Escherichia coli. In the resulting strains, mutations conferring deficiencies for specific metabolic enzymes were introduced. Derivatives completely deficient in catalase activity and/or glutathione metabolism have been constructed and are available for comparative mutagenesis studies.
1) THE WORK WILL EXTEND THE CAPACITY OF THE FORWARD MUTATION ASSAY CALLED THE L-ARABINOSE RESISTANCE TEST OF SALMONELLA TYPHYMURIUM (ARA TEST) FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF THE CARCINOGENIC POTENTIAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS. GROUPS OF CARCINOGENS TO BE STUDIED INCLUDE DIRECTLY ACTING ALKYLATING AGENTS AND ALKYL HALIDES (WHICH GIVE A RELATIVELY POOR CORRELATION WITH THE AMES TEST).

2) THE DOSIMETRY OF THE L-ARABINOSE RESISTANCE ASSAY WILL BE DETERMINED WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ITS COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE WITH OTHER STRAINS OF E-COLI IN THE HOST-MEDIATED ASSAY.

Fields of science

Programme(s)

FP1-ENVPROT 4C - Multiannual research and development programmes (EEC) in the field of the environment - Protection of the environment -, 1986-1990

Topic(s)

Data not available

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DE CORDOBA

EU contribution

No data

Address

S/N,Avenida Menéndez Pidal S/N
14080 CORDOBA
Spain

Total cost