Biomaterial Database

Prophage lambda induction of Escherichia coli K12 envA uvrB: a highly sensitive test for potential carcinogens. 1976

P Moreau, and A Bailone, and R Devoret

A simple, inexpensive, and sensitive test for potential carcinogens based upon the property of carcinogens to induce prophage lambda is described. By using chemicals activated with microsomal enzymes and E. coli K12 permeable (envA) tester bacteria also deficient in DNA repair (uvrB), the range of carcinogens detected in a lysogenic induction test (inductest) has been extended. We have provided the evidence that, after activation, carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a5pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene induce prophage lambda. Three variants of the test have been developed (inductests I, II, and III), which are as sensitive as the mutagenicity test of Ames et al. [Ames, B. N., McCann, J. and Yamasaki, E. (1975) Mutat. Res. 31, 347-364]. Inductests II and III provide a quantitative estimation of the inducing activity of a carcinogen. With the latter test, one can determine: (i) the cellular toxic effect of a carcinogen and (ii) the kinetics of appearance and disappearance of active metabolites. For two series of chemicals, aflatoxins and benz[a]anthracenes, there is a good correlation between their carcinogenic activity in rodents and their prophage inducing activity in bacteria. The fact that the majority of the cell population is induced makes it possible to test the inducing activity of carcinogens at the biochemical level, e.g., by measuring lambda repressor inactivation.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008242	Lysogeny	The phenomenon by which a temperate phage incorporates itself into the DNA of a bacterial host, establishing a kind of symbiotic relation between PROPHAGE and bacterium which results in the perpetuation of the prophage in all the descendants of the bacterium. Upon induction (VIRUS ACTIVATION) by various agents, such as ultraviolet radiation, the phage is released, which then becomes virulent and lyses the bacterium.	Integration, Prophage,Prophage Integration,Integrations, Prophage,Prophage Integrations
D008862	Microsomes, Liver	Closed vesicles of fragmented endoplasmic reticulum created when liver cells or tissue are disrupted by homogenization. They may be smooth or rough.	Liver Microsomes,Liver Microsome,Microsome, Liver
D002273	Carcinogens	Substances that increase the risk of NEOPLASMS in humans or animals. Both genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanism, are included.	Carcinogen,Oncogen,Oncogens,Tumor Initiator,Tumor Initiators,Tumor Promoter,Tumor Promoters,Initiator, Tumor,Initiators, Tumor,Promoter, Tumor,Promoters, Tumor
D003090	Coliphages	Viruses whose host is Escherichia coli.	Escherichia coli Phages,Coliphage,Escherichia coli Phage,Phage, Escherichia coli,Phages, Escherichia coli
D004353	Drug Evaluation, Preclinical	Preclinical testing of drugs in experimental animals or in vitro for their biological and toxic effects and potential clinical applications.	Drug Screening,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Pre-Clinical,Drug Evaluation Studies, Preclinical,Drug Evaluations, Preclinical,Evaluation Studies, Drug, Preclinical,Evaluation, Preclinical Drug,Evaluations, Preclinical Drug,Medicinal Plants Testing, Preclinical,Preclinical Drug Evaluation,Preclinical Drug Evaluations,Drug Screenings,Screening, Drug,Screenings, Drug
D004926	Escherichia coli	A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria (GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVELY ANAEROBIC RODS) commonly found in the lower part of the intestine of warm-blooded animals. It is usually nonpathogenic, but some strains are known to produce DIARRHEA and pyogenic infections. Pathogenic strains (virotypes) are classified by their specific pathogenic mechanisms such as toxins (ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI), etc.	Alkalescens-Dispar Group,Bacillus coli,Bacterium coli,Bacterium coli commune,Diffusely Adherent Escherichia coli,E coli,EAggEC,Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli,Enterococcus coli,Diffusely Adherent E. coli,Enteroaggregative E. coli,Enteroinvasive E. coli,Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli
D005838	Genotype	The genetic constitution of the individual, comprising the ALLELES present at each GENETIC LOCUS.	Genogroup,Genogroups,Genotypes
D001711	Biotransformation	The chemical alteration of an exogenous substance by or in a biological system. The alteration may inactivate the compound or it may result in the production of an active metabolite of an inactive parent compound. The alterations may be divided into METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE I and METABOLIC DETOXICATION, PHASE II.
D014779	Virus Replication	The process of intracellular viral multiplication, consisting of the synthesis of PROTEINS; NUCLEIC ACIDS; and sometimes LIPIDS, and their assembly into a new infectious particle.	Viral Replication,Replication, Viral,Replication, Virus,Replications, Viral,Replications, Virus,Viral Replications,Virus Replications