A study of the structural basis of the ability of chlorinated alkanes and alkenes to induce aneuploidy and toxicity in the mold Aspergillus nidulans.

A knowledge-based system (MULTICASE) was applied to the elucidation of the structural basis of the induction of aneuploidy and growth inhibition by a group of chlorinated alkanes and alkenes in Aspergillus nidulans. It was found that while there were commonalities in the structural determinants associated with fungicidal and fungostatic activities, there were none between these and the structures associated with the induction of aneuploidy. Moreover, there did not appear to be a commonality between the structures associated with the induction of aneuploidy and those associated with the induction of mutations in Salmonella.