The Ames test is used to determine if a chemical is mutagenic by exposing bacteria to it and observing if mutations occur. Bruce Ames developed the test in 1970 using Salmonella typhimurium bacteria strains that require histidine. If the chemical is mutagenic, it can cause a reverse mutation making the bacteria able to grow on histidine-free medium, indicating the chemical causes mutations. The test is useful for screening potential carcinogens as mutagens may lead to cancer, though it has limitations as bacteria differ from human cells. Liver extracts are included as liver enzymes may activate some compounds to their mutagenic forms.
2. WHAT IS AMES TEST ?
It is a test to determine the
mutagenic activity of chemicals by
observing whether they cause
mutations or NOT
3. MUTATIONS: any sudden permanent change in
the sequence of DNA
Any agents that cause mutations are called
MUTAGENS.
Mutagens may be : I) chemical agents
ex:1-4,dichlorobenzene
1-3, dichloro-2 propanol
II) physical agents
ex:
by sun
By microwaves
By X-rays
4. INTRODUCTION
AMES TEST is widely employed method used to
test whether a given chemical can cause
mutations in DNA in test organism.
It is also called BACTERIAL REVERSE
MUTATION ASSAY.
It is based on the Principle of back mutation or
reverse mutation.
5. It is used to estimate the carcinogenic potential
of a compound
There are many standard carcinogen assay's on
mice and rats but they are time consuming
(nearly 2-3 yrs) and expensive with false-positive
and false-negative results.
But AMES TEST serves as quick and convenient
assay.
6. HISTORY
AMES test was brought forwarded by
BRUCE AMES in 1970.
He is a professor in biochemistry department in the
University of California.
He developed this method as the previous methods
or assays are expensive and time consuming.
7. GENERAL PROCEDURE
Several strains of bacterium Salmonella typhimurium, carries
mutations in genes involving in histidine(amino acid)
synthesis.
The strains are auxotrophic mutants h- (defective organism
or deficiency mutant) i.e., they require histidine for growth
as they cannot produce it.
Ames test tests the capability of the test substance
creating mutations that results in prototrophic state h+ i.e.,
the strains can grow on the histidine free medium.
8. Isolate an auxotrophic S.thypimurium for
histidine
Prepare a test suspension(-H) in a plain
buffer and add small amounts of histidine.
[NOTE :small amount of histidine is
necessary of initial growth of bacteria]
Also prepare (-H) control suspension i.e.,
without test chemicals.
Incubate the suspensions at 37属C for
20mins.
9. Spread the suspensions on
two different agar plates.
Again incubate the plates 37属C
for 48hours.
After 48hrs count the colonies
in each plate .the mutagenicity
of chemicals is proportional to
number of colonies observed.
12. Examples of chemicals that gives positive responses to
Ames test :
2-aminofluorene
Ethylene dibromide(EDC)
Ziram
Safrole
Saccharine
Aflotoxin
13. AMES TEST & CARCINOGENS
Mutagens identified via Ames test are possible carcinogens, early
studies showed 90% of known carcinogens.
Later studies showed 50-70% carcinogens.
14. The dose response curve obtained in Ames test is almost always
LINEAR ,indicates that there is no threshold concentrations for
Mutagenesis => indicates there may be no safe threshold level for
chemical mutagens or carcinogens.
15. IMPORTANCE
Ames test is one of the test which screens for potential chemical
carcinogens.
Under PESTICIDE ACT (USA), there are 8 tests and Ames test is
one of them.
Similarly, TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT (USA). There are 6
tests and Ames test is also one of them.
16. LIMITATIONS
Salmonella typhimurium is a bacterium and thus not a
perfect model of human body(which is why liver enzymes
are added to the test)
In vitro model of eukaryotic cells has been adapted like
yeast and mammalian cells grown in culture.
21. WHICH BACTERIA GROW ON THE
CULTURE PLATE IF AMES TEST IS
POSITIVE?
his+ prototroughs
the bacteria used in the Ames test to evaluate
mutagenicity are his auxotrophs. If the Ames
test is positive, these bacteria have reverted
back to wild type and are his+ prototrophs.