Rapid transfection assay for screening mutagens and carcinogens

Vasavada, HA and Padayatty, JD (1981) Rapid transfection assay for screening mutagens and carcinogens. In: Mutation Research Letters, 91 (1). pp. 9-14.

PDF full_text_3.pdf - Published Version Restricted to Registered users only Download (303kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

Testing for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity has become an integral part of the toxicological evaluation of drugs and chemicals. Standard carcinogenicity tests in vivo require both large numbers of animals and prolonged experiments. To circumvent these problems, several rapid tests have been developed for preliminary screening of mutagens and carcinogens in vitro. Ames and his associates, the first to develop a mutation test, used mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium [1]. Mutation tests with Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and DNA-repair tests with E. coli and B. subtilis, have been developed. Cytogenetic assays, in vivo as well as in vitro, in both plant and animal systems, are also used to detect potential mutagens and carcinogens. Transfection is inhibited by base mutation, cleavage of DNA, loss of cohesive ends, interaction with histones, spermidine, nalidixic acid, etc. [3]. The efficiency of transfection is affected by temperature, DNA structure and the condition of the competence of the recipient cells [3]. Transfection assays with phages MS: RNA and ~i, x 174-DNA have been reported [15]. A fast and easy transfection assay using colitis bacteriophage DNA is reported in this communication.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Mutation Research Letters
Publisher:	Elsevier Science B. V.
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to Elsevier Science B. V.
Department/Centre:	Division of Biological Sciences > Biochemistry
Date Deposited:	18 Dec 2009 12:08
Last Modified:	19 Sep 2010 05:48
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/23906

Actions (login required)

View Item