DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF MUTAGENICITY OF ARENEDIAZONIUM IONS IN V79 CELLS AND SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM TA102 - EVIDENCE FOR DIFFERENT MECHANISMSOF ACTION

The edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus contains several arylhydrazines and arenediazonium ions that are genotoxins. The mechanism whereby ary lhydrazines and arenediazonium ions are genotoxic is unknown and may b e due to the arenediazonium ion itself or to aryl radicals. The reacti ons of four arenediazonium ions (p-X-C6H5N2+, X = -CH3, -CH2OH, -CH2OC H3, -CO2H) with purine bases, their mutagenicity, their ability to cau se DNA damage, and their tendency toward free radical formation have b een studied to elucidate the genotoxic species. It is suggested that e ither the arenediazonium or aryl radical can act as the ultimate genot oxin. Which species is dominant is dependent upon the arenediazonium i on reduction potential. This relationship may be useful in designing f uture studies of arenediazonium ion genotoxicity.