There is a correlation between the DNA affinity and mutagenicity of several 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indoles.

3-Amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole, previously reported to be a component of tryptophan pyrolysates, is an intensely mutagenic compound requiring microsomal activation for expression of mutagenicity. We have found that this species and several synthetic analogs interact noncovalently with calf thymus DNA, as judged by both fluorescence quenching and differential dialysis. Remarkably, this noncovalent interaction correlated with the mutagenic potential of the compounds in a bacterial mutagenesis assay. Therefore, it is suggested that the mechanism of mutagenesis involves metabolic activation followed by physicochemical interaction with DNA; for these compounds, the latter step may be limiting for the expression of mutagenicity.