Mutagenic, recombinogenic and antimitochondrial effects of nitracrine analogues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The mutagenic and recombinogenic potential of 9-[(3-dimethylaminopropyl)amino]acridine and its 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-nitro derivatives was studied using 3 different strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The parent compound slightly enhanced the frequency of total aberrant colonies in diploid strains D5 and D7, but showed no evidence of recombinogenic effects. Each of the nitroacridines enhanced the frequency of total aberrant colonies in strains D5 and D7, but only the 1- and 4-nitro compounds significantly enhanced mitotic crossing-over (measured as twin spotted colonies in strains D5 and D7) or gene conversion in D7. The 3- and 4-nitro derivatives were effective mitochondrial mutagens, substantially increasing the frequency of 'petite' mutants in strains D5 and 5178B.