DNA-attacking ability of carcinogenic mycotoxins in recombination-deficient mutant cells of Bacillus subtilis.

Thirty mycotoxins and 5 chemically modified toxins were tested for DNA-attacking ability in the rec assay using the recombination-deficient mutant of Bacillus subtilis M45 (rec-) and the parent strain H17 (rec+). Six Penicillium toxins (citrinin, penicillic acid, patulin, (-)-luteoskyrin, (+)-rugulosin, and PR-toxin), 5 Aspergillus toxins (aflatoxins B1 and G1, sterigmatocystin, O-acetylsterigmatocystin, and O-acetyldihydrosterigmatocystin), and 2 Fusarium toxins (zearalenone and zearalenol-b) were positive. Among these 13 compounds, the following 8 mycotoxins have been reported to be carcinogenic in animals: citrinin, penicillic acid, patulin, (-)-luteoskyrin, (+)-rugulosin, aflatoxins B1, and G1, sterigmatocystin. Correlation between the rec effect and in vivo carcinogenicity of mycotoxins is discussed.