Mutational specificity of the syn 1,2-dihydrodiol 3,4-epoxide of 5-methylchrysene

The mutational specificity of the syn dihydrodiol epoxide of 5-methylchrysene in the supF gene of the pSP189 vector was examined. Transversion mutations at GC pairs predominated with G --> T and G --> C changes accounting for 42 and 21% of total base change mutations. The types of mutations found reflect the previously determined chemical preference of this reactive species for reaction with deoxyguanosine residues in DNA.