A microsuspension adaptation of the bacillus subtilis “rec” assay

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Abstract
We have demonstrated the utility of an Escherichia coli microsuspension assay to detect and characterize chemical mediation of DNA damage by a wide variety of mutagens and carcinogens. The assay has been improved by the development of a microsuspension modification to the Bacillus subtilis “rec” assay. The addition of these gram‐positive organisms has allowed detection of DNA damage induced by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), 3‐aminopyrene (3‐AP), 7, 12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), 3‐methylcholanthrene (3‐MC), and 4‐nitrobiphenyl (4‐NBP). Data presented in this paper from tests of 61 additional compounds, including a representative number of direct and promutagenic agents, indicate that the B subtilis H17 and M45 strains provide an effective microbial system for identification of DNA damage susceptible to postreplicational repair. The results of this study further suggests that the inclusion of these strains in the microsuspension assay for DNA damage will markedly enhance the detection of agents which cannot readily penetrate the intact cell wall of E coli.

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