Mutagenic actions of chlorocholine chloride.

Chlorocholine chloride, at concentrations of 0.2 to 0.5 M (3.2 to 7.9%) between pH 5 and 8, showed no significant mutagenic effect whereas at the same concentrations at pH 9 it caused mutations, in a valine-sensitive strain of E. coli K12. Treatment of E. coli B with chlorocholine chloride at 0.5 M and pH 9 resulted in auxotrophic and regulatory deficient (valine-sensitive) mutants. The mutagenic effects of chlorocholine chloride were compared with the effects caused by the food additive NaHSO3.