Sodium bisulfite induces morphological transformation of cultured Syrian hamster embryo cells but lacks the ability to induce detectable gene mutations, chromosome mutations or DNA damage.

The ability of sodium bisulfite to induce morphological transformation and mutagenesis of cultured Syrian hamster embryo cells was examined. Treatment of the cells at neutral pH for 15 min with 5-20 mM sodium bisulfite resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell transformation but no induction of gene mutations measured at two genetic loci. Treatment of the cells for 24 h increased the level of transformation, but also failed to induce chromosome aberrations, aneuploidy or DNA strand breaks in the cells. The only positive response for a DNA alteration was an increase in sister chromatid exchanges, but this effect was observed only with the longer exposures and not with the 15 min exposure, which also transformed the cells. Possible mechanisms for bisulfite-induced cell transformation are discussed.