Mutagenicity of 2-Chloroethyl Methanesulphonate in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

TUMOUR-inhibitors belonging to the so-called alkylating agents (nitrogen mustards, diepoxides, dimethanesulphonates and polyethyleneimines) have been shown to be strong mutagens¹ when injected intra-abdominally into adult Drosophila males. This indicates that with these agents, the overall cell damage accompanying inhibition is, in part at least, due to action on the genetic material. The analysis of the nature of this genetic damage revealed some intricate differences in the mode of action of compounds belonging to different chemical series. These differences were most pronounced in relation to : (a) the cell stage predominantly affected, and (b) the proportion of the various mutations induced, particularly the ratio of sex-linked recessive visibles to lethals. In both these respects chloroethyl methanesulphonate (CB 1506) differs from all other potential alkylating agents so far investigated.