Genotoxicity studies with the unstable Zeste‐White (UZ) system of Drosophila melanogaster: Results with ten carcinogenic compounds

Abstract

To increase the number of chemicals tested using the zeste-white (UZ) somatic mutation assay, ten selected carcinogens (acetamide, acrylamide, benzo(alpha)pyrene, cyclophosphamide, diethylstilbestrol, 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide, propyleneimine, safrole, thiourea, and o-toluidine) have been evaluated in this assay. Our results show that all the compounds tested produce significant increases in the eye spot frequency at, at least, one of the concentrations assayed, indicating that the zeste-white assay appears to be highly sensitive to these carcinogenic compounds. That is in agreement with data previously reported by other authors.

Genetic and molecular analysis of a set of unstable white mutants in Drosophila melanogaster

“…Somatic mutations within the w +Uz allele induced during embryonic or early larval development give rise to wildtype pigmented or white sectors in the yellow eye (Rasmuson, 1985a). The somatic UZ assay has been used as a sensitive test to analyse a wide variety of potential genotoxic agents (Xamena, Creus & Marcos, 1984;Fujikawa, Ryo & Kondo, 1985;Rasrnuson, 1985b;Vogel, 1989;Wtirgler & Vogel, 1986;Batiste-Alentorn et al, 1991;Rasmuson & Larsson, 1992).…”