A Pilot Study for the Mutation Assay Using a High-throughput DNA Sequencer

Abstract

We present here a mutation assay with little bias which incorporates high-throughput DNA sequencing technology. Our strategy is simple: 1) expose cells to a test compound, 2) isolate colonies, and 3) carry out whole-genome sequencing of the clones. In this pilot study, we used Salmonella typhimurium TA100 as a tester strain and successfully detected mutations induced by the mutagen 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl) acrylamide (AF-2). We believe that this new mutation assay will be a very useful tool in hazard assessment of chemicals.