Characteristics of mutagenesis by bleomycin and adriamycin in salmonella typhimurium: action of superoxide dismutase.

The role of reactive oxygen species in adriamycin and bleomycin-induced mutagenicity was investigated in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA102 respectively. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was inhibited by preincubation of bacteria with diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC). Results of Ames test may suggest the involvement of active oxygen species in bleomycin induced mutagenesis and an absence of their participation in adriamycin induced mutagenesis.