Metabolic activation and deactivation of fusarin C, a mutagen produced by Fusarium moniliforme.

The metabolic activation and deactivation of fusarin C, a mutagen produced by Fusarium moniliforme strain MRC 826, was studied by the Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay using tester strain TA 100. A microsomal monooxygenase, preferably induced by phenobarbitone (PB) activities the mutagen to its active mutagenic form. Deactivation of the mutagenic metabolite seems to occur through chemical binding to thiol groups and by enzymatic conjugation mediated by a cytosolic glutathione -S-transferase.