ADDITION OF ALPHA-DICARBONYL COMPOUNDS TO GUANINE AND GUANOSINE

The equilibrium constants (K-F) for the addition of a series of a-dica rbonyl compounds to guanine and guanosine are reported together with t he apparent enthalpy of the reaction. The main conclusion is that the mutagenic activity of alpha-dicarbonyl compounds in the Ames test seem s to be governed mainly by the addition to guanine residues in bacteri al nucleic acids.