The mutagenicity of aflatoxin Q1 to Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 with or without rat or human liver microsomal preparations.

An investigation of the mutagenicity of aflatoxin Q1 in the Salmonella-mutagenicity test is reported. This mammalian metabolite of aflatoxin B1 was marginally mutagenic to strain TA 98 when either rat or human liver microsomes were present in the test. However, it was mutagenic to TA 100 with the same liver activation sources in the assay. Moreover, it was mutagenic to TA 100 in the absence of liver microsomes. This Q1 mutagenesis, presumably a direct acting base substitution effect, was nearly equal to the liver activated mutagenesis. It was also greater in this respect than aflatoxin B1 or aflatoxicol.