In vitro Mammalian Gene Mutation Tests
The mammalian mutation assays measure forward mutations at two different loci. These loci control the expression of thymidine kinase (TK) or hypoxanthine- guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) or xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (gpt). In order to evaluate the effect of metabolism on the test article, such tests are performed in the presence and absence of exogenous mammalian liver enzyme preparations (S9). The assays measure heritable genetic damage arising by several mechanisms in living cells and are capable of detecting chemicals that induce either gene mutations or heritable chromosomal events, including genetic events associated with carcinogenesis. This assay will be performed by either the soft agar or the microwell method.
These tests are offered in two different cell types and two different endpoints either the soft agar or the microwell methods. The assays measures heritable genetic damage arising by several mechanisms in living cells and are capable of detecting chemicals that induce either gene mutations or heritable chromosomal events, including genetic events associated with carcinogenesis.
- TK in mouse lymphoma cells (L5178Y cells)
- TK in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells
- HGPRT in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) or, V79 cells, or L5178Y cells.
- gpt locus using AS52 cells.: AS52 cells are hprt-deleted mutant CHO cell line transfected with plasmid vector pSV2gpt. The assay is the bacterial equivalent of the mammalian hprt gene;