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Are physiological oxygen concentrations mutagenic?

Nature volume 274, pages 606–607 (1978)Cite this article

Abstract

HYPERBARIC oxygen is known to be mutagenic towards Escherichia coli1–3. But, can oxygen be mutagenic at tensions physiological to man? We have studied this question using oxygen-sensitive mutants of the histidine auxotroph strain TA100 of Salmonella typhimurium constructed by Ames and his coworkers as part of a test system for carcinogens4. We find that oxygen tensions physiological to higher animals are mutagenic towards these organisms.

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References

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Author notes

  1. WALTER J. BRUYNINCKX

    Present address: Laboratorium voor Fysiologische Scheikunde, Faculteit Diergeneeskunde, R.U.G., Casinoplein 24, B-9000, Gent, Belgium

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center Portland, Oregon, 97201

    WALTER J. BRUYNINCKX & HOWARD S. MASON

  2. Department of Microbiology, University of Oregon Health Sciences Center Portland, Oregon, 97201

    STEPHEN A. MORSE

Authors
  1. WALTER J. BRUYNINCKX
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  2. HOWARD S. MASON
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  3. STEPHEN A. MORSE
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BRUYNINCKX, W., MASON, H. & MORSE, S. Are physiological oxygen concentrations mutagenic?. Nature 274, 606–607 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274606a0

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