This paper reviews the use of in vitro and in vivo antimutagenicity st
udies that determined the role of plant peroxidases in the activation
of arylamine promutagens. New information presented here suggests a mo
del in which tobacco cell peroxidases exuded into the culture medium u
ndergo a maturation process affecting their capacity to activate aryla
mine promutagens. Tobacco cell peroxidases are present in medium recov
ered from stationary phase cells and are associated with a fraction th
at sediments at 12 000 X g. These peroxidases have a greater capacity
to activate arylamines than do peroxidases present in the supernatant
fluid. These data suggest that the plant activation of arylamines into
products that are mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium may be intimate
ly involved in the process of lignification.