Antimutagens against spontaneous and induced reversion of a lacZ frameshift mutation in E. coli K-12 strain ND-160.

Isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), at 0.5 or 1.0 mM, is shown to reduce spontaneous, and to virtually abolish caffeine- or quinacrine-induced reversions of the lacZ frameshift mutation in E. coli ND160. Guanosine at 200 micrograms/ml and Co2+ at 15 micrograms/ml had an erratic partial antimutagenic effect on spontaneous lac+ reversions. All 3 agents reduce caffeine-induced (500 micrograms/ml) mutagenesis. Spermine (250 micrograms/ml) also reduces quinacrine-induced Lac+ reversion frequencies in this system.