New Very Rapid Bioluminescent Promutagenicity Tests

We will develop new, very rapid bioluminescent mutagenicity tests that can be applied to purecompounds, complex chemical mixtures, process and drinking water and environmental samples. Thenew bioluminescent mutagenicity reporting system is designed to be used as a screening test. This testis not designed to be used in an "analytical" mode, and as such it is not designed to take the place ofthe Ames test. These simple and inexpensive "lights-on" reversion assays will be used to screen largenumbers of samples on-site on industrial production lines and in the field at environmental sites. Twosystems will be evaluated: a second generation mutatoxR system (vibrio fischeri M169) and a pointmutation E.coli-based reversion system (based on mutations in cloned Xenorhabdus luminescens luxABgenes). The tester strains will be engineered to contain and express intracellularly prokaryoticStreptomyces griseus cytochrome P-450soy system enzymes, replacing exogenous mammalian S9extracts. These new bioluminescent mutagenicity tests will be rapid (less than a day) and will notrequire plating. Test samples will be diluted, the tester added and after a brief incubation, light will bemeasured. The dose dependent light response will be a measure of mutagenicity.