Ethylation versus Methylation in Mutation of Escherichia coli and Drosophila

Abstract

THE monofunctional ethylation reaction has been established as an inducer of genetic mutation in a number of test organisms. In particular, ethylation appeared to be unique among the alkylation reactions in its ability to induce mutation in the first lytic cycle following treatment of extracellular phage, since methylation, propylation, and other analogous reactions were not effective¹. More recently, however, it was reported² that the methylation and propylation reactions do produce slight increases in mutation on extracellular phage, but at considerably lower frequencies than the ethylation reaction. Although such a distinct competence of the ethylation reaction does not appear to be preserved in bacteria and higher organisms, ethylation is nevertheless regarded as a more efficient inducer of mutation than other alkylation reactions.