DEPENDENCE OF THE INTENSITY OF 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE-INDUCED MUTAGENESIS ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL-STATE OF SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM TESTER STRAINS

The dependence of the mutagenic potential of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TN T) on the growth phase of Salmonella typhimurium tester strains TA100 and TA98 is shown. The mutagenic potential proved to be maximal for lo g-phase cultures, being higher with strain TA100 than TA98. The amount of TNT absorbed by bacteria in the first minutes of contact varied de pending on culture age and was the largest at the beginning of the exp onential growth phase. A direct relation between the number of microbi al cells and the amount of TNT absorbed from the medium was shown. The analysis of infrared (IR) spectra of cells after a S-min contact with TNT demonstrated that, at physiological temperatures, 2.4% of the ori ginal amount of TNT was present in cells of the tester strain in an un altered form, while, at a lowered temperature, this value was 10.3%. T hus, the retardation of physiological processes in the cell changes th e intensity of mutagen absorption and transformation. It is emphasized that an accurate assessment of mutagenicity should take into account the physiological state of tester bacteria.