Genotoxicity of the organophosphorus compound methylparaoxon evaluated by the comet assay

• Authors: Andrzej Trzeciak , Janusz Błasiak , Maria Wojewódzka , Joanna Kowalik

Abstracts

EN

Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, food production and household. Due to the
broad spectrum of their activity, their biological action is extensively investigated. We
assessed the genotoxidty of methylparaoxon - the main metabolite of commonly used
organophosphorus insecticide, methylparathion. Freshly isolated human peripheral blood
lymphocytes were incubated for 1 h with methylparaoxon at 37° C, and then, were
incubated in methylparaoxon-free medium to examine DNA repair. Alkaline single cell
gel electrophoresis (the comet assay) was used to assess DNA damage and repair.
Methylparaoxon induced moderate DNA damages that were almost completely repaired
after 60 min. Obtained results suggest that methylparaoxon could induce single-strand
breaks in DNA both directly and by methylathion of DNA bases.

• Publisher: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
• Journal: Acta Universitatis Lodziensis. Folia Biochimica et Biophysica
• Year: 2001
• Volume: 15

Dates

published

2001

Contributors

author

Andrzej Trzeciak

author

Janusz Błasiak

author

Maria Wojewódzka

author

Joanna Kowalik

other

University of Lodz Department of Molecular Genetics

Identifiers

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/11089/12035