Pol A and Salmonella Assays

Although, in our hands, dimethylcarbamyl chloride was not mutagenic in the standard Salmonella assay, a mutagenic response was obtained when it was tested under conditions that prevented evaporation. 

Assay system Noncarcinogen Ultimate carcinogen Procarcinogen Ultimate + procarcinogens (combined)  

TABLE 11. Correlation between Mutagenicity (Salmonella) and DNA-Modifying Activity (Pol A /Pol Ai )  

All carcinogens Ultimate carcinogens Procarcinogens Noncarcinogens Unknown carcinogenicity 

Of these, 14 that gave positive tests in the standard assay also yielded positive results in the modified procedure and 5 that were negative remained negative. On the other hand, of 51 chemicals that inhibited neither strain (i.e., no test results), 29 were positive in the modified assay while 22 gave clearly negative results (Table 9). 

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