Mutagenicity of N-hydroxylamines and N-hydroxycarbamates towards strains of Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract The mutagenic activity of several arylamines, alkyl- and arylcarbamates and their corresponding N -hydroxylated derivatives towards Escherichia coli WP2uvrA was investigated using the fluctuation test without a metabolic activation system. None of the parent amines or carbamates were mutagenic while several arylhydroxylamines and N -hydroxycarbamates were direct-acting base-pair substitution mutagens. With the exception of n -hexyl- N -hydroxycarbamate, the mutagenic activity of the N -hydroxycarbamates increased with increase in the length of alkyl substituent. Some arylamines and arylhydroxylamines were further examined, again without a metabolic activation system, using a plate test in conjunction with bacterial strains which detect either base-pair or frameshift mutagens. The arylhydroxylamines were found to cause both base-pair and frameshift mutations but were more active as frameshift mutagens. Possible reasons for the observed mutagenic activity are considered.