Induction of Bacteriophage Formation in Lysogenic Bacteria by a Potent Carcinogen, 4-Nitroquinoline l-oxide, and its Derivatives

Abstract

SINCE the pioneer work of Lwoff et al.¹ it is well known that in certain lysogenic strains of bacteria the phage formation leading to cell lysis can be induced by various agents such as ultra-violet, ionizing radiation, nitrogen mustard, ‘Mitomycin C’ (ref. 2), etc. According to Lwoff's argument, all the water-soluble carcinogens may exhibit more or less prophage-inducing action. From this point of view, it may be of interest that 4-nitroquinoline l-oxide (4-NQO), which was recently demonstrated as a powerful carcinogen by Nakahara et al.³, was found to exert an inducing effect on phage formation in Escherichia coli K12(λ). Of further interest is the fact that the ability of several derivatives of 4-NQO to induce the phage formation is coincident with their carcinogenic action.