Mutagenicity studies of muroctasin.

ABSTRACT

A synthetic muramyl dipeptide derivative N2-[(N-acetylmuramoyl)-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl]-N6-stearoyl-L-lysine (MDP-Lys(L18), muroctasin) was studied for mutagenicity using the Ames method, in vitro cytogenetics and micronucleus test. MDP-Lys(L18) had no mutagenic effect on S. typhimurium (TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98 and TA100) or E. coli (WP2 uvrA) in the reverse mutation assay. In the cytogenetic study, MDP-Lys(L18) had no effect on the chromosomes of the Chinese hamster cells at cytotoxic doses. Single subcutaneous treatment of MDP-Lys(L18) at dose levels of 3.5, 35 or 350 mg/kg in the mouse micronucleus test did not increase the incidence of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. These results show that MDP-Lys(L18) has no demonstrable mutagenic potential.