Abstract

The mutagenic activity of 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-amino-3-methylbiphenyl was investigated in the Amestest, Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA98 were used. 4-N-acetylaminobiphenyl and 4-N-acetylamino-3- methylbiphenyl were not mutagenic (or weakly). 4-Amonibiphenyl, 4-amino-3-methyl-biphenyl, 4-acetoxy-acetylaminobiphenyl, 4-N-hydroxy-N-acetylaminobiphenyl and 4-N-hydroxy-N-acetylamino- 3-methylbiphenyl were mutagenic in the presence of metabolic activation. With 4-hydroxylaminobiphenyl, 3-methyl-4-hydroxylaminobiphenyl and 3-methyl-4-acetoxy-acetylaminobiphenyl a mutagenic activity was found in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. With 4-nitrobiphenyl and 3-methyl-4-nitrobiphenyl a mutagenic activity was found without metabolic activation. The obtained results point to the hydroxylamino derivatives as being the ultimate mutagenic derivatives of 4-aminobiphenyl and 4-amino-3-methylbiphenyl.