Aflatoxin B1 mutagenesis, DNA binding, and adduct formation in Salmonella typhimurium

Abstract Salmonella typhimurium strain TM677 was mutagenized with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in liquid suspension culture in the presence of a rat liver postmitochondrial supernatant. Forward mutation to 8-azaguanine resistance was measured in the treated cultures and was found to increase linearly with AFB1 concentration. DNA purified from mutagenized cells was analyzed for AFB1 adduct formation by high-pressure liquid chromatography after adduct liberation. AFB1 exposures at 0.16 and 0.32 micrometer for 35 min produced 15 and 22 AFB1--DNA adducts per genome, respectively, and induced 8-azaguanine-resistant fractions of 4.9 X 10(-4) and 9.6 X 10(-4). Approximately 70% of the AFB1 bound to DNA was chromatographically identical to 2,3-dihydro-2-(N7-guanyl)-3-hydroxyaflatoxin B1 at the two AFB1 levels used.