Enhancement of DNA binding and mutagenicity of 1-nitropyrene by zinc acetate in Salmonella typhimurium TA100.

The effect of zinc acetate on the mutagenicity of 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) in Salmonella typhimurium TA100 was examined. By the pre-treatment of the cells with zinc ions (0.24 mM) the revertant colonies caused by 1.5 microM of 1-NP in the pre-incubation mixtures increased approximately 3-fold, while the survival colonies decreased to approximately 75% under the same conditions. The enhancing effect of zinc ions on the mutagenicity was not dependent on the increase of 1-NP incorporation into the cells. The addition of zinc ions to whole cell preparations had no enhancing effect on the 1-NP reductase activity. The effect of zinc acetate on the binding of [3H]1-NP to DNA in S. typhimurium TA100 was examined. The amount of [3H]1-NP bound to DNA increased by the pre-treatment of the cells with zinc ions. A good correlation was found between the extent of binding of 1-NP to DNA and the frequency of induced histidine reversions in the cells treated with zinc ions under the experimental conditions used.