Induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in HeLa cells by allylic compounds.

Thirteen allylic compounds, mostly with close structural relationship, were tested for their ability to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in HeLa cells and mutations in the Ames test; 11 induced UDS in dose dependence. Allyl isothiocyanate was negative in UDS (borderline in the Ames test) and acrolein (positive in the Ames test) proved toxic to HeLa cells, therefore UDS measurement was excluded. In general, positive qualitative and quantitative correlation between UDS, Ames test and alkylating properties (as measured in the 4-nitrobenzyl-pyridine test, NBP) were found. Among structural analogs and typical allylic compounds with various leaving groups, the amount of induced DNA repair at equimolar concentrations decreased in the same order as the mutagenic and alkylating activities in the other 2 test systems: 1,3-dichloropropene (cis) greater than 1,3-dichloropropene (trans) greater than 2,3-dichloro-1-propene; 1-chloro-2-butene greater than 3-chloro-1-butene greater than 3-chloro-2-methyl-1-propene greater than allyl chloride; allyl-methane-sulfonate greater than -iodide greater than -bromide greater than -chloride.