Main description:

Applied genetic research, genetic toxicology and mutation research investigate the mutagenicity and cancerogenicity of chemicals and other agents. Permanent mutation in genes and chromosomes, can be induced by aplethora of agents, including ionizing and nonionizing radiations, chemicals, and viruses. Among the aspects discused by Advances in Mutagenesis Research are (1) the understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to mutations, and (2) the prevention of a thoughtless introduction of mutagenic agents into the environment. Contents: Nikolay W. Timofeeff-Ressovsky (1900-1981): An Essay on his Life and Scientific Achievements. - Arylnitrenium Ions and the Genotoxic Potency of Aromatic Amines and Nitro Compounds. - Analysisof Mutagenicity and Chemical Structure in Various Series of Related Compounds. - Formation of 8-Hydroxyguanine by Oxidative DNA Damage, its Repair and its Mutagenic Effects. - Exploring Genetic and Non-Genetic Relationships: The Induction of Micronuclei. - Mechanisms of Induced Mutagenesis by Ultraviolet Light in Escherichia coli. - Polytene Chromosomes in Mutagenesis.
Three-Way Differential Stainingof Chromosomes for the Identification of SCEs per Cell Cycle: Fundamentals and Applications. - The Mammalian Centromere: Centromere Separation, Kinetochore Proteins and Aneuploidy. - Chorionic Villi Analysis. - ExploringGenetic and Non-Genetic Relationships: The Induction of Micronuclei.

Contents:

Nikolay W. Timofeeff - Ressovsky (1900 - 1981) An Essay on His Life and Scientific Achievements.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Autobiographical Notes.- 3 Scientific Achievements.- References.- Arylnitrenium Ions and the Genotoxic Potency of Aromatic Amines and Nitro Compounds.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Reactive Metabolites of Arylamines and Nitroarenes.- 3 Photochemical Formation of Arylnitrenium Ions from Arylazides.- 4 Chemical Structure and Mutagenic Potency of Arylazides/Arylnitrenium Ions.- 5 Reactivity of Arylnitrenium Ions and Genotoxic Potency of Aromatic Amines and Nitro Compounds.- 6 The Contribution of the Organism to the Genotoxic Potency.- 7 Conclusions.- References.- Formation of 8-Hydroxyguanine by Oxidative DNA Damage, Its Repair and Its Mutagenic Effects.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Formation of oh8Gua in DNA by Oxygen-Radical Forming Agents.- 3 Repair of oh8Gua Residues in DNA.- 4 Induction of Mutations by oh8Gua in DNA.- 5 Discussion.- References.- Exploring Genetic and Nongenetic Relationships: The Induction of Micronuclei.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Simulation Studies.- 3 Comparison of Structural Fragments.- 4 Discussion.- References.- Analysis of Mutagenicity and Chemical Structure in Various Series of Related Compounds.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Monocyclic Compounds.- 3 Naphthalene and Structurally Related Compounds.- 4 Quinoline and Structurally Related Compounds.- 5 Biphenyl and Structurally Related Compounds.- 6 Anthraquinone and Structurally Related Compounds.- 7 Fluorene and Structurally Related Compounds.- 8 Discussion.- References.- Mechanism of Induced Mutagenesis by Ultraviolet Light in Escherichia coli.- 1 Background and Perspective.- 2 General Aspects of UV Mutagenesis.- 3 Main Lesions Produced by UV Light and Its Role In Mutagenesis.- 4 Mutational Spectra of UV Light.- 5 The Protein RecA and UV Mutagenesis.- 6 Role of UmuC and UmuD.- 7 Involvement of Polymerases in UV Mutagenesis.- 8 Untargeted Mutagenesis.- 9 Towards a Mechanistic Model of Base-Pair Substitution Mutation by UV Light.- References.- Polytene Chromosomes in Mutagenesis.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Characterization of Polytene Chromosomes.- 3 Polytene Chromosomes - a Tool in Molecular Genetics.- 4 Conclusions and Perspectives.- References.- Three-Way Differential Staining of Chromosomes for the Identification of SCEs per Cell Cycle: Fundamentals and Applications.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Fundamentals of the Three-Way Differentiation.- 3 Applications of the TWD Staining Method.- 4 TWD Staining in Plants.- 5 Conclusions.- References.- The Mammalian Centromere: Centromere Separation, Kinetochore Proteins and Aneuploidy.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The Centromere.- 3 The Kinetochore.- 4 Centromeric DNA.- 5 Kinetochore Proteins.- 6 Is There a Centromerease?.- 7 Sequential Centromere Separation.- 8 Pericentric Heterochromatin and Centromere Separation.- 9 Repetitive DNA and Centromere Separation.- 10 Multicentric Chromosomes.- 11 What is Centromeric DNA?.- 12 Kinetochore Proteins and Chromosome Migration.- 13 Nuclear Blebbing.- 14 Chromosome Location with Regards to the Spindle.- 15 Centromere Separation in Human Disease and Evolution.- 16 Conclusions.- References.- Chorionic Villi Analysis.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Historical Development.- 3 Patients.- 4 CVS Techniques and Risk Estimations.- 5 Cytogenetic Techniques.- 6 Cytogenetic Data.- 7 Molecular Analysis.- 8 Conclusions.- References.