The mutagenic activity of the DNA of recombinant plasmids in a competent Bacillus subtilis culture

The method for testing foreign plasmid DNA mutagenicity on the competent culture of B. subtilis has been developed. High mutagenic effect of DNA of recombinant plasmids carrying a single human Alu-repeat or the same repeat in combination with human apoAi gene or human insulin gene was demonstrated. The vector plasmid pUC18 had no mutagenic activity. According to the data of dot-blotting some fragments of recombinant plasmid DNA of human origin can integrate in B. subtilis chromosome by means of illegitimate recombination. It is concluded that B. subtilis test system is suitable for detection of potential mutagenic polynucleotide sequences in recombinant plasmid constructions produced for gene therapy purposes.