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Induction of respiration deficient mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Berenil

I. Berenil, a novel, non-intercalating mutagen

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Summary

Berenil [di-(4-amidinophenyl)-triazine-(N-1,3)-diaceturate], a potent trypanocide, is known to interact strongly with kinetoplast and circular DNAs in general, yet is incapable of intercalation. Intercalative binding has been thought to be required for cationic, aromatic dyes, such as ethidium bromide or euflavine, to be effective in inducing the conversion of wild type to cytoplasmic petite, (ϱ−) cells, a mitochondrial mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. However, as shown here, Berenil is an efficient mutagen, but its action appears to differ in several important details from that brought about by the two classes of intercalating dyes.

Virtually quantitative, rapid mutagenesis without lethality can be brought about by concentrations of Berenil as low as 6.25 μM on glucose grown cells. This is so even after starvation in buffer, but requires the presence of a carbon source. For cells previously grown on a respiratory carbon source the concentration of Berenil must be raised to concentrations ≧50 μM for effective mutagenesis. The mutagenic process, induced by Berenil, particularly in the absence of growth is characterized by the production of a large number of mixed clones.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    Henry R. Mahler & Philip S. Perlman

  2. Department of Genetics, Ohio State University, 621 Biological Science Building 484 W. 12th Avenue, 43210, Columbus, Ohio, USA

    Philip S. Perlman

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  1. Henry R. Mahler
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  2. Philip S. Perlman
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Communicated by Ch. Auerbach

Publication No. 2047.

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Mahler, H.R., Perlman, P.S. Induction of respiration deficient mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by Berenil. Molec. Gen. Genet. 121, 285–294 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433228

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00433228

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