B5051 – Bacterial Strain Kit

 

The Muta-ChromoPlateTM is a 96-well microplate version of the salmonella typhimurium ‘Ames Test,’ used for detection of mutagenic activity.

 

Developed to test mutagenic materials in water soluble extracts of sediment, air, chemicals, food components, cosmetics, waste waters, portable waters and any other material that can be solubilized or placed into micro suspension in water, such that the material being tested can be taken up by the test strain.

 

The Muta-ChromoPlateTM provides a clear colour endpoint. Reagents, cultures and other consumable components are supplied ready-to-use in a non-specialized laboratory.

 

Colour endpoints of the Muta-ChromoPlateTM

 

Purple-No Mutation Yellow-Reverse Mutation Occurred

 

 

 

 

 

Principle

 

The Muta-ChromoPlateTM kit is based on the most generally used and obacterial reverse-mutation test, known as the ‘Ames Test’ (Ames et al., 1975, Mutation Research 31:347).

 

The test employs a mutant strain, or several strains, of Salmonella typhimurium, carrying mutation(s) in the operon coding for histidine biosynthesis. When these bacteria are exposed to mutagenic agents, under certain conditions, reverse mutation from amino acid (histidine) auxotrophy to prototrophy occurs.

 

Traditionally, reverse-mutation assays have been performed using agar plates. An alternate assay performed entirely in liquid culture is the ‘Fluctuation Test’ based on multiple yes/no colour endpoints known as the Muta-ChromoPlate kit.

 

For more information please download EBPI’s handout on the Ames Reverse Muta-ChromoPlate test kit.

 

Characteristics

 

The Muta-ChromoPlateTM kit is generally more sensitive than the pour-plate assay, because it allows testing of higher concentrations of sample (up to 75% v/v). The assay procedure is simple and requires minimal training. Consumable components are provided with ready-to-use and step-by-step instructions. "Instructions for Use" are provided with the basic kit. The only equipment required are a 37 degree Celsius incubator and a single and a multi-channel micropipettor.

 

S9 and Activation of Pro-Mutagens

 

S9 is a crude liver enzyme extract that can, under certain conditions, convert materials without any genotoxic activity to active genotoxic entities. The chemical process involved may be different for different materials. In addition, the lifetime of the activated moieties is extremely variable: some may be extremely short-lived. This is the reason for incubating the S-9 with the bacteria and the tested material at the same time during the assays.

 

Applications

 

Testing of pharmaceuticals for mutagenic activity

 

Testing of industrial effluents for presence of possible mutagenic compounds

 

Screening of municipal discharges for possible routine presence or spills of mutagenic compounds

 

Screening of surface and/or groundwater for mutagenic residues

 

Screening of potable water supplies for the presence of chemicals with mutagenic potential

 

Screening of water soluble air pollutants for mutagenic agents

 

Evaluation of pure or complexed raw mixtures for potential mutagenicity

 

A convenient and easy to use teaching tool for university and college laboratories

 

The Muta-ChromoPlateTM Ames Test kit is designed to be user friendly – removing potential contamination concerns.