Mutagenic Agent

Name:
Mutagenic Agent
Detailed information:
(1) Any of a number of chemical compounds able to induce mutations in DNA and in living cells. The alkyl mustards, as well as dimethyl sulfate, diethyl sulfate, and ethylmethane sulfonate, comprise a group of so-called alkylating agents, reacting with the nitrogen atoms of guanine, a constituent of both RNA and DNA. This reaction affects the guanine molecule in such a way as to ultimately induce a mutation in DNA by depurination. Nitrous oxide can deaminate both guanine and cytosine. If DNA having transforming activity is exposed to such deamination conditions, it is slowly deactivated. Nitrous oxide also produces mutants in whole cells, whole bacteriophage, some viruses, and DNA having transforming ability. (2) Ionizing radiation.