THE W W(+) SOMATIC MUTATION AND RECOMBINATION TEST (SMART) OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER FOR DETECTING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES - CHARACTERIZATION OF 6 STRAINS/
I. Gaivao et Ma. Comendador, THE W W(+) SOMATIC MUTATION AND RECOMBINATION TEST (SMART) OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER FOR DETECTING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES - CHARACTERIZATION OF 6 STRAINS/, Mutation research. Section on environmental mutagenesis and related subjects, 360(2), 1996, pp. 145-151
The w/w(+) somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of Drosophi
la melanogaster is a fast and low cost in vivo assay that has shown ex
cellent results in the assessment of genotoxicity of a large number of
compounds. However, recent studies have revealed that, when procarcin
ogens are to be evaluated, the performance of the assay is largely dep
endent on the genetic background of the strains used. To determine whi
ch one of the strains available for this test would be advisable to ev
aluate agents producing reactive oxygen species we have used two appro
aches. Firstly, the w/w(+) assay was carried out using 6 different str
ains and two compounds: menadione and paraquat. Secondly, 3 biochemica
l traits were determined for the 6 strains: superoxide dismutase and c
atalase activities, and their capacity to induce reactive oxygen speci
es. The results suggest that the strains Oregon K and Haag 79 would be
usable when potential inducers of reactive oxygen species are to be i
nvestigated.