MUTAGENICITY OF FURFURAL IN PLASMID DNA

Furfural is recognized as a dietary mutagen and is present in various foods and beverages. We have examined the mutagenic effect of furfural induced lesions in plasmid pBluescript(R) SK(+/-). There was a progre ssive decrease in the transformation capacity of the plasmid as a func tion of furfural concentration with a concomitant increase in the numb er of mutant plasmids. Several mutant plasmids with reduced transforma tion capacity and a molecular size similar to the parental plasmid wer e isolated. A stretch of DNA of 108 basepairs within the multiple clon ing region was sequenced, It was observed that the number of mutagenic events in the case of furfural damaged plasmid was not significantly greater than in spontaneously arisen mutants. These results were inter preted to indicate that furfural mediated DNA damage is efficiently re paired.